Sample of Calico c. 1941

Genevieve Sherlock’s “Sample of Calico” presents us with a small square of patterned fabric laid against a plain background. The blue is so consistent, so evenly distributed, that it almost disappears, which is not to say that it lacks interest, but it asks you to adjust your expectations. You have to be prepared to slow down and give yourself over to the rhythm of the repeating motifs. Those little shapes, like miniature rolling pins, give a sense of order. The slight imperfections, the way the dye sits differently on different parts of the fabric, are what make this piece feel so human and alive. Thinking about other artists who embrace repetition and subtle variation, Agnes Martin comes to mind. Like Martin, Sherlock invites us to find the extraordinary within the ordinary, to appreciate the beauty of simple forms and the meditative power of repetition. There is a kind of generosity in the work of any artist who believes that a pattern can be enough.