Shaker Gloves c. 1941

Editor: Here we have "Shaker Gloves," a pencil drawing by Orville Cline, from around 1941. The muted tones and simple composition give it such a quiet, almost nostalgic feeling. What strikes you most about this seemingly ordinary piece? Curator: Ordinary, yes, but the kind of ordinary that holds worlds! To me, these gloves whisper stories of hands, of work, of a life lived close to the earth. The texture Cline coaxes from the pencil makes you almost feel the wool, doesn't it? The slightly wonky rendering of the ribs in the knit reminds me how the Shakers embraced imperfection, how functionality was seen as beauty itself. Look at the little "P B" monogrammed on the gloves—a charming personal touch amidst all that austerity. Did you know Shaker communities valued practicality? Editor: It's interesting that they’re fingerless gloves. Did the fingerless style allow more dexterity for work? Curator: Absolutely. Imagine milking a cow, tending a garden, or even meticulously crafting those iconic Shaker boxes. And perhaps, just perhaps, Cline saw more than just gloves; maybe he saw the spirit of resilience in every stitch, in the wear and tear, in that charming monogram! Editor: That is a lovely thought. I’ll never look at ordinary objects the same way. Curator: It is rather special, isn't it? Art has that magical ability to infuse the everyday with profound meaning! It seems the magic truly does lie in finding those stories.