Medicine Box c. 20th century

This "Medicine Box," made by an anonymous artist, is a real head-scratcher, like a folk art puzzle. The artist used simple materials, wood and paint, to create something deeply personal and maybe even a bit secretive. The surfaces are raw, you can see the wood grain right through the paint, which gives it a kind of immediacy, as if the artist just grabbed whatever was around and got to work. The images are like icons – an American flag, an eagle – mixed with more personal symbols like the drum and arrow. Each image seems carefully placed, like they're telling a story, or maybe keeping one safe. Look at the way the red paint is thickly applied to the pipe, it's almost sculptural. It is as if the artist is less interested in making pretty pictures and more into conjuring up something powerful. It reminds me of Forrest Bess, another artist who used personal symbols to create work about the interior life. Art’s like that, isn't it? An ongoing conversation, full of questions.