Needlepoint Panel c. 1939

Phyllis Dorr's needlepoint panel gives you the feeling that it was a long time in the making. You can see the physical commitment in the way each stitch builds up to create a whole world. The surface has a real tactile quality because of all those stitches, the process of working the threads must have been so important to the artist. The density of the needlepoint creates a rich texture, where the different colors blend to make this slightly naive scene. I love the way the figures are rendered, especially the folds of the red dress, they are so graphic, almost cartoon-like, giving the whole scene a real vitality. You can feel the joy of the making. It reminds me of the work of some of the pattern and decoration artists, like Robert Kushner, who also found inspiration in folk art. This is a real gem.