Shaker Rug (Detail) c. 1936

Lucille Gilchrist made this small Shaker Rug Detail sometime in the 20th century, using what looks like colored pencil or crayon on paper. It's all about the process, you know? The texture in this piece is amazing, even though it’s just on paper. You can almost feel the wool, the way the colors blend together to create this overall vibrating surface, the pinks and blues and greens all fighting for attention. Look closely, and you see the individual marks, each one carefully placed. It makes me think about the Shaker commitment to simplicity, and how this piece reflects that in its own way. It reminds me a bit of Anni Albers, who also explored the relationship between weaving and abstraction. Art is just an ongoing conversation, isn't it?