Woman's Gaters 1935 - 1942

Mary Berner made this drawing of a Woman's Gater, a kind of covering for the ankle and instep, with colored pencil on paper. I love the way the gater itself is rendered in delicate grey pencil strokes, like she’s feeling her way into the form. You can almost see Mary, bent over this drawing, carefully shading each little curve and swirl of the lace pattern. I imagine her thinking about the woman who might have worn this gater, what was her life like? Did she dance? Did she laugh? Maybe Mary even imagined herself wearing the gater, gliding across a ballroom floor. It reminds me that even the simplest object can be a portal to another world, another time, another life. The fuchsia border gives it a pop, a sense of whimsy. It's the little details that bring a drawing like this to life. You can see the artist’s hand, her patience, her love of detail. And that's what makes art so special, right? It's a conversation across time, an exchange of ideas, inspiring creativity in ways we might not expect.