Silver Pitcher c. 1936

John Garay’s drawing of a silver pitcher is rendered on paper with graphite, and it's all about the light. Look at how the pencil strokes coalesce to give the pitcher its form, like a slow dance between shadow and shine. The surface has a compelling kind of luminescence, as though the graphite is trying to be silver. Garay coaxes the material to mimic the reflective qualities of the pitcher itself. Notice the handle: such a simple, elegant curve. It's almost separate from the body of the pitcher, held by a whisper of graphite. The texture is smooth, and the artist's hand is barely visible, yet the drawing breathes with a life of its own. This kind of drawing reminds me of the still life paintings of Giorgio Morandi, who explored the poetry of everyday objects. Both artists, in their own way, invite us to contemplate the quiet beauty of simple forms, revealing how much there is to see when we really look.