Pottery Jug c. 1938

Al Curry made this Pottery Jug with paint on paper. It makes me think about the long tradition of still life painting, like Morandi’s bottles, but more like folk art. I can imagine Curry carefully layering the paint, trying to capture the way light reflects off the surface of the jug. It’s got this beautiful, earthy palette of browns and creams, and you can almost feel the texture of the pottery through the delicate brushstrokes. It feels like there's a story embedded in the simple form of the vessel. The painting is modest. It makes me think about the everyday objects that hold meaning in our lives, the kind of things that get passed down through generations. Ultimately, it’s about seeing the beauty in the mundane. These artists are in ongoing conversation, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways.