Slipper c. 1940

Curator: Well, would you look at this, another glimpse into Gernon’s playful world. "Slipper," likely from the 1940s. It's rendered using pen, ink, watercolor, a mixed media approach that allows for delicacy and precision. Editor: My first thought? Ouch! That pointed toe looks positively weaponized! But beyond that, there's a dreaminess here, almost like it's a study of a memory of a slipper, not the thing itself. Curator: Absolutely. Look at the line work, particularly in the upper sketches, that barely-there rendering. And the dominant slipper has this jaunty plaid – the horizontal and vertical interplay— it speaks to her interest in form, definitely! Editor: It's a curious choice though, isn't it? That plaid disrupts any sense of fluid grace, almost like it's deliberately stiffening what should be a soft, flowing form. Is it a constraint or perhaps Gernon trying to cage femininity somehow? Curator: Cage is a bit strong but I agree that her use of common geometrical patterns, and indeed of everyday subjects – especially as understood in painting practice – speaks to her engagement with societal expectations. Perhaps even expectations around "women's work," given its domestic context? Editor: Ah, that's an interesting take. A quiet act of subversion through an unexpected juxtaposition. Because otherwise, the color choices, the wispy quality of the watercolor washes—it’s pure, innocent daydream stuff. I keep wanting it to shimmer somehow. Curator: And yet, those sketches in the top-left of the picture frame... Ghosts, perhaps? Ideas fading away or alternatives dismissed, replaced by this assertively patterned design. The eye goes there immediately, you are right! Editor: Hmm, that visual layering adds a real sense of depth. It moves beyond a simple object study and towards something that speaks to choice, perhaps the act of designing or, you are right again, memory and loss. And that one tie! Untied as to remind us of imperfection and beauty, side by side? Curator: Perhaps! So, the next time you see a plaid pattern, consider "Slipper." There may be so much more than what your shoe suggests. Editor: I leave considering how much these humble, everyday items become resonant chambers if you tune the dial properly. The ordinary sings a new song, once again!