Water Filter c. 1937

Gordena Jackson made this drawing of a ‘Water Filter’ out of graphite on paper, but the real process is in her touch, in how she coaxes out the shadows and highlights of this everyday object. Look at the way the graphite catches the light, almost like the filter itself is glowing. See how the texture is built up, layer upon layer? This isn't just a water filter; it's a study in light and form, a meditation on the ordinary. The drawing has a subtle intensity, a testament to Jackson’s attention to detail, but at the same time, it embraces a certain openness, inviting us to project our own associations and interpretations onto the subject. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin, in the way she found profundity in the simplest of forms, elevating the mundane to the level of the sublime. It shows us that art isn't just about grand gestures; it's about seeing the world with fresh eyes, finding beauty in the unexpected, and, perhaps, making the invisible visible.