Sampler (Stitching) c. 1937

This is a stitched sampler by Barnes. The vertical lines of green and tan are so rigid and orderly, it makes me think of the focus and attention of its maker. It is really an act of time and patience, which I sympathize with as a painter. I wonder if she was thinking about the tension between control and spontaneity, just like I do? The needle, the thread, the fabric; they are the equivalents to my brush, paint, and canvas. The stitches have a rhythm of repetition that is almost meditative. Stitch after stitch, slowly building the pattern and form. Just as I layer colors, Barnes builds textures through stitching. Sampler (Stitching) shows how the act of making is an exploration, an exercise of skill, and a labor of love that resonates across time and artistic practices.