simple is good.

Joe Cunnigham

Agnes Martin

Recently I have been looking at the quilts of Joe Cunningham aka "Joe the Quilter" and I will openly say that generally I am not that moved by quilts. Perhaps because they always seem so perfect when they are an " art" work. The skill level is SO high that the innate quality of the quilt and it being hand made is missing. Especially since most modern quilters use a machine for the actual "quilting."

Joe Cunnigham

But one series of Joe's is drawing me in. He makes other works that are colorful and playful and graphic but I am drawn to the simplest ones.

Joe Cunnigham

Containing only lines and a limited color palette. They have such simplicity that I can get lost in them and choose to stay for awhile.

Joe Cunnigham

They very much remind me of Agnes Martin's paintings. All of which are actually not that far off from the size of a small quilt. Agnes Martin made painting after painting of horizontal lines and subtle color hoping to imbue her work with spirituality and the celebration of nature. I never understood or cared for her work until I had the privilege to see it daily.

Agnes Martin

When I worked for Pace Gallery, who has long time represented her, I handled and walked by many Agnes Martin works and to see her work in person is to be transcended. Though her work may seem somewhat rigid in its form she actually embraced the imperfections that come with a hand never erasing or fixing moments where the line became flawed.

Agnes Martin

Joe's quilts remind me of her powerful work and leaves me a little inspired to find simplicity.

Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.
Agnes Martin

Read a previous post on Agnes here.