Crewel Embroidered Bed Curtain c. 1937

This Crewel Embroidered Bed Curtain was created by Robert T. Gills. It’s hard to know exactly what to make of this piece, other than to understand that the artist had an eye for the mark making and colour found in nature. Here, the material aspects of the work feel really important. The texture of the fabric, the weave, and the way the thread sits on top of it all contribute so much. The blue flower is really interesting. You can almost feel the artist repeating the same stitch, over and over, gradually building up the form. Each mark, each stitch, feels like a little decision, a moment of attention and I wonder what that attention feels like, both for the artist and for us? Looking at this piece, I am reminded of the work of Ree Morton, who similarly embraced a kind of handmade aesthetic. It’s a reminder that art isn't just about what you see, but about how you see. It's a conversation, a back-and-forth, that keeps going, keeps changing, and keeps us guessing.