Coverlet c. 1937

This is Ruth Barnes' 'Coverlet', made in an unknown year, from watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper. It's an image of a coverlet design, so the process is one of translation, not invention. The blue and white colors create a simple, striking contrast. It's a rendering of a physical object, but because the rendering is made with ink and graphite, we're seeing the design filtered through a hand, not simply a reproduction. I love the way the design is at once decorative and functional. The pattern is symmetrical, but not perfectly so, giving it a human touch. Look at the tiny dots in the blue background, like little stars. That detail alone, so lovingly added, makes me think of the endless hours craftspeople put into these textiles, the care involved. It reminds me of the work of Ree Morton, who also took humble, domestic objects and transformed them into high art. Both artists remind us that art is everywhere, if we just take the time to look.