Dancing Shoe c. 1936

Curator: What a whimsical piece! Immediately, I’m drawn to the decorative nature—folkloric almost, perhaps theatrical? Editor: You've intuited something immediately apparent: a dreaminess, perhaps, despite the stillness. The work, entitled "Dancing Shoe," rendered around 1936 by Ann Gene Buckley in watercolor and drawing, showcases an elevated flair—dare I say a buoyant quality—despite the quiet presentation of the material. Curator: Interesting. I find myself fixated on the meticulous depiction of the shoe’s adornments, especially the intricate arrangements on the vamp. I am eager to understand the role they play in the shoe’s narrative, because shoes signify movement and direction; yet they are not on a person. Editor: It strikes me that even devoid of a dancer's foot, they almost float in a balletic sense; but that's because the choice of color carries something significant. What is this color that you find jumps forward? Curator: That bold, unrestrained application of darks coupled with that earthy ground speaks loudly—these are utilitarian symbols contrasted by ribbons of unbridled whimsy and fantasy, revealing the spectrum that guides culture and performance. I have to ask, what about you makes this art leap off the walls? Editor: The ribbons are tied rather suggestively in the painting: hinting at their connection and release as part of their natural interaction between art and user. I am certain Ann Gene Buckley would appreciate the way the ribbons play in my own memories now! It adds an almost ethereal contrast that feels both nostalgic and strangely forward-looking. Curator: Indeed. This dance between practicality and exuberance, the push-and-pull we project onto what covers our feet as instruments of journey and the symbols that guide and accompany this instrument is deeply reflective of her role. Editor: It’s curious how something so specific and concrete—a pair of decorated dancing shoes from a singular artist–can evoke so many stories within us both at once, and separately! Thanks for adding new layers of my reading, always appreciated.