Bandbox c. 1940

Marie Lutrell, who lived to be 100, imagined this bandbox with paint, paper, and pastel. It’s not a conventional landscape, but a playful exploration of form and surface. Lutrell approached the box like a canvas, layering images and patterns. I imagine her turning the box around and around, adding figures pushing a telescope towards a distant sky, little white stars, and flowers, a process of building up and layering. The scenes are set against a moody turquoise, making the bright details pop. This colour is like the night sky or perhaps a reflecting pool, adding depth to the composition. The repetitive figures remind me of Persian miniatures with their flat perspective, and the overall image of folk art, made by someone thinking and working outside the norms of artmaking. Lutrell’s unique vision reminds us that creativity knows no bounds. We all are participants in an ongoing conversation, each artist building upon and responding to the ideas of those who came before. It's a journey of shared inspiration.