Applique Coverlet c. 1936

Curator: I'd like to introduce Ernest A. Towers Jr.'s "Applique Coverlet," a mixed-media drawing on paper, believed to be from around 1936. We see elements of textile design informing his artwork, leaning toward a folk art sensibility. What's your initial read of this piece? Editor: Well, it's calming, isn't it? I mean, beyond just being a design for a coverlet. There's almost a meditative quality with the repeated patterns, though that strong red ribbon pulls me out of the reverie a bit. I can imagine spending hours just tracing those curves and floral designs with my eyes. Curator: That interplay between dynamism and stillness is quite astute. Towers was working during the Depression, a period when folk art and craft traditions were consciously revived to offer a sense of continuity and accessible beauty during upheaval. Coverlets, quilts, any kind of hand-made domestic items were especially significant. Editor: It feels intrinsically personal. As if, beyond the tradition, the artist found something unique to say within those lines and shapes. The muted tones almost feel like a whispered secret; even that brilliant ribbon detail doesn’t overpower. It’s more of an invitation than a declaration. Curator: Precisely! There's a deliberate anonymity in folk art traditions that often transcends the personal and touches upon shared cultural experiences. How does this blend with Towers' vision? What's the place of drawing in that moment? Is this just a diagram? I'm not sure about that. Editor: It strikes me as more than just a blueprint; there's an expressive quality in the way he renders the forms and motifs, it has such presence. I wonder if he ever actually realized it in cloth, the coverlet itself, or was the act of design enough? Curator: It speaks to the democratization of art and design, really. That even a sketch for something utilitarian can be a powerful artistic statement reflecting the cultural and economic context. Editor: Yes, it also feels very intimate in its potential, almost as if he gifted someone with a promise in colour and line. Like a secret message of hope rendered in floral arrangements. Curator: It’s fascinating to consider how this relatively small work embodies such large social and artistic currents. Thanks for offering that more intimate view. Editor: Always a pleasure! It’s funny how something meant to be practical can unlock so many emotional spaces within us.