Quilt c. 1939

Douglas Campbell made this 'Quilt' out of watercolour and graphite on paper, though it's easy to imagine these patterns on cloth. The shapes here are so familiar, aren't they? Like a cozy geometric hug. The pastel colors are quiet, unassuming. And the way those floral shapes are fitted into the curves and triangles is like a puzzle where the pieces barely fit. It's not slick, and I like that. There's something very human in the making of it. It reminds me of a wonky drawing I made recently with misshapen circles and wobbly lines. Look at the way the textures are built up; you can almost feel the layered fabric. It reminds me of outsider art, where the process is so visible, so central to the work. It's all about the making, the doing, the getting lost and finding your way again. Much like the quilts of Gee's Bend! It's this ongoing conversation between art and craft, intention and accident.