Hooked Rug c. 1936

This Hooked Rug was made by Barnes sometime between 1855 and 1995. Look at how the entire surface is covered with tiny little marks, each one a small decision building up the whole image. The ground of the rug is a kind of mottled brown, with a border of flowery tendrils in black and gold. In the middle, there's a little bouquet of flowers – white, red, purple – giving the whole thing a feeling of warmth and intimacy. Imagine the texture, the rough feel of the yarn, each loop a tiny act of creation. There's a spot in the lower right corner where the black line of the border wavers ever so slightly – a small wobble, a human touch that brings the whole thing to life. Barnes’ rug reminds me of the work of Ree Morton, who took humble materials and transformed them into something deeply personal and poetic. Art's not about perfection; it's about the conversation, the back-and-forth, the way we keep making and remaking the world around us.