Hair Wreath 1938

Samuel Faigin made this hair wreath drawing with what looks like pencil and watercolor. The drawing describes the kind of folk art that’s made with human hair, and for me it speaks to the process of making art itself. Look at how Faigin uses washes of color to build up the forms. The paint is really thin, almost transparent, which gives the wreath a light, airy quality, like it might float right off the page. Then notice the tiny dots and dashes that create texture and detail. Those tiny marks create the overall form. It’s so delicate and precise, but there’s also a sense of freedom in the way he lets the lines flow and meander. The drawing reminds me of some of the work of Ree Morton, who also blurred the lines between craft and fine art. Like Morton, Faigin invites us to appreciate the beauty and potential of everyday materials. Art is an ongoing conversation, and these artists remind us that it’s okay to embrace ambiguity and find meaning in the unexpected.