Cup - "Hartford Asylum" c. 1936

This cup, called "Hartford Asylum," was made by Helmut Hiatt sometime between 1855 and 1995. Imagine Hiatt carefully decorating this cup, his hand steady as he paints the Hartford Asylum. What was he thinking as he painted those tiny, repetitive arches? Is he lost in the memory of the place? The cup itself is a blank canvas and a challenge. The surface curves away, and the details become even more crucial. I think about Hiatt repeating patterns, finding a rhythm, and creating a world within the confines of this small object. I’m reminded of other artists who work with repetition like Agnes Martin, who creates intricate, mesmerizing patterns that invite contemplation. Here, the building wraps around the cup, and the floral design in the inside reminds us that it is a vessel, meant to hold something. There is a conversation happening between artists across time, an ongoing dialogue. We bring our own experiences and interpretations to it, allowing for new meanings to emerge.