Flip c. 1940

Roberta Spicer made this drawing of a glass, titled "Flip", using graphite on paper. The artist uses a humble medium to capture a mass-produced object, one that would have been typical of its time, so the choice of material elevates the status of the ordinary into the realm of art. The graphite, applied with varying pressure, gives form to the cylindrical glass with careful attention paid to the light as it catches on the drinking vessel. The decorations etched into the glass are not obscured by shadow, and are presented in a great detail. The drawing prompts us to consider the broader social context, in which everyday objects played a role in shaping social interactions and cultural identity. It also challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, inviting us to recognize the artistic merit in the representation of functional objects.