Pin Cushion 1935 - 1942

Frank Maurer made this "Pin Cushion" sometime in his life, using his hands to construct a really beautiful thing. The colours are muted, like old textiles – pinks, blues, and a deep maroon. It feels like an experiment in geometry, or maybe a kind of playful, homespun Dada. There's a real tactile quality to the piece, like you could reach out and touch the fuzzy, uneven edges of the central circle. Look at the way the pastel shards create this starburst effect. Each tiny piece, a slightly different shade, contributing to the overall energy. It's like Maurer was thinking about the way colour vibrates, how even small shifts can create movement and depth. It reminds me of the work of Ree Morton in a way, though Maurer’s got that outsider sensibility. Art’s a conversation, right? We build on each other’s ideas, even across time and different worlds.