Gridiron c. 1938

Salvatore Borrazzo made this drawing of a gridiron, with graphite, on paper. Looking at this simple metal object, I imagine the artist’s quiet attention. Maybe he found himself drawn to its straightforwardness, the way the light catches on its surface, the shapes making up its form. I think of Giorgio Morandi who made painting after painting of bottles. What do you think he was searching for? Here, Borrazzo is using graphite, rubbing the soft material onto paper. You can almost feel the grit of the metal, the slight imperfections in the casting. He’s found a beauty in the ordinary. It reminds me that artists are always looking, always finding new ways to see the world. Whether painting, drawing or sculpting, we’re all inspired by each other, responding to what came before, adding our own voice to the mix. And sometimes, it’s the simplest things that spark the most interesting conversations.