Friendship Pillow 1939

This ‘Friendship Pillow’ was made by Max Fernekes, and it looks like it's crafted with needlepoint on canvas. The colors are muted, soft, creating a warm, tactile surface. It's got me thinking about how process is so vital to art making. Each tiny stitch builds up, like each brushstroke in a painting. Look closely, and you'll see a world of tiny images, motifs from nature and everyday life; a red gift box, a bird, flowers, and the cutest monkeys. The canvas texture peeks through, grounding the image in material reality. There’s something lovely and intimate in its imperfections. My eye is drawn to the two monkeys in the bottom. Their playful interactions bring a sense of joy and connection to the work. It's like looking at a Joseph Yoakum, both artists sharing an idiosyncratic way of seeing and depicting the world. The 'Friendship Pillow' isn't just a visual piece; it's an artifact of shared history.