Trivet c. 1942

Ardella Watkins made this drawing of a Trivet sometime in the 20th century. Look at the careful rendering of the dark brown metal against the light background, so precise, so considered! I really sympathize with Ardella and what it might have been like to create this. Perhaps she was contemplating all of the pots and pans that this trivet has supported throughout its life, witnessing the preparation of countless meals. Or maybe she was thinking about the patterns. Two overlapping hearts and a lattice. You can see the evidence of her hand in the slight variations in the lines. I can almost imagine her squinting to make sure each mark was in the right place, wanting to capture the essence of the object. The light she has caught in the drawing makes me think of the work of other artists. Agnes Martin’s delicate and softly rendered grids come to mind. Artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time. Just as this trivet has witnessed so many meals, we can witness Ardella and her drawing, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.