Tumbler 1935 - 1942

Michael Trekur made this drawing of a tumbler on paper, and what strikes me is how delicately he coaxes out the form with graphite. Look closely, and you see it’s all about process here; the soft gradations of tone, the patient layering of marks, each one building towards an understanding of light and form. The paper itself has a gentle, aged quality, providing a subtle, warm ground against the cool greys of the tumbler. It's as if the paper is breathing. Consider the way Trekur captures the subtle glint of light on the metal surface. It's not about flashy realism, but rather a quiet observation, a meditative rendering of the everyday. The drawing calls to mind the work of Giorgio Morandi with his still life's. Like Morandi, Trekur transforms ordinary objects into things of beauty. Art is an ongoing conversation, don't you think?