Wrought Iron Toaster 1935 - 1942

This is John Garay’s ‘Wrought Iron Toaster’, drawn with pencil on paper. What strikes me about this piece is the attention to the detail of a very ordinary object. The artist renders the object in careful detail, showing the ironwork with a kind of reverence. The lines of the pencil are very fine and controlled, with a slight shadow rendered by close hatching that gives volume to the piece. You can see that in the small hinge mechanism that allows the toasting rake to be held at an angle, or in the tapering ends of the implement. I find it fascinating that the artist chose to represent this household item with such dedication. It’s almost like a portrait, the artist has really seen the object. It reminds me of the work of Vija Celmins, who also makes drawings of everyday objects with the same amount of care and attention. It makes you think about the beauty that can be found in the most unexpected places.