Set Shot 1982

Editor: Ernie Barnes’s “Set Shot,” painted in 1982, presents us with a figure caught mid-basketball move against the backdrop of a weathered house. It’s quite striking, almost dreamlike in its simplicity. I’m particularly drawn to the tension in the figure’s stretched form. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes. Ernie Barnes had a gift for capturing movement, didn't he? And that elongation of the body, his signature, is especially poignant here. I see a dance between aspiration and environment. Notice how the rough texture of the house mirrors the makeshift basketball hoop—a certain kind of beauty found in resourcefulness. It reminds me of summer days spent on neighbourhood courts with friends. But look closely at that tilted basketball hoop. Editor: I hadn't considered that parallel before! It does add a new layer to the story, implying resourcefulness with the lopsided net. What does that make you feel? Curator: You might consider what Barnes is communicating beyond just the pure joy of sport and of reaching a goal. I think the tilting net and its basket speak volumes to this picture! Perhaps he felt as though success or that “winning shot” may never arrive for all the players involved, if life or success isn't easily granted but precariously, and that makes this an unforgettable artwork. Don't you agree? Editor: That’s a much deeper reading than I initially had, I had never thought to bring those thoughts or considerations to this. So, not just about basketball, it's about perseverance even when the odds are stacked? Curator: Exactly! That, for me, elevates "Set Shot." You see, the painting almost asks us if triumph is still a possibility or worth achieving if the set-up isn’t fair. Editor: I learned something new today. I won't ever look at this the same again. Curator: That's the magic of art, isn't it? It lingers, and continues to unfold.