Petit Point Fire Screen c. 1937

This 'Petit Point Fire Screen' was made by Ernest A. Towers, Jr., sometime between 1855 and 1995. Just look at how the artist has brought this piece to life, shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. Imagine the artist meticulously plotting each stitch, carefully considering the placement of every color and line. What thoughts might have occupied their mind as they worked? The texture, the surface, all contribute to the emotional and intellectual resonance of the work. The colors, the surface, all contribute to the emotional and intellectual resonance of the work. Each tiny stitch communicates feeling, intention, or meaning. The artist would have surely been in conversation with other makers, both past and present, drawing inspiration from their creativity and adding their unique voice to the ongoing dialogue. This piece embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meaning, so let's appreciate it for that.