Beaded Bag c. 1939

This "Beaded Bag" was made at some point by Marion Gaskill, although when exactly, we don't know. What a world, this surface built of tiny, careful stitches! The piece feels almost like a painting, but with an incredible texture that invites you to reach out and touch it, even though you shouldn't. Look at the way the light catches on each tiny bead, creating a shimmering effect that changes as you move around it. It's bursting with color, from the sunny yellow of the sunflower to the soft pink of the rose. And those blues! There's a playful asymmetry to the floral arrangement. It reminds me of the quilts made by the Gee’s Bend quilters, who used found materials and improvisation to create something totally new. You can almost feel Marion Gaskill enjoying the process, making decisions as she went, and allowing the piece to evolve organically. That's what art is all about, isn't it?