Oval Pin c. 1937

This Oval Pin, made by Tulita Westfall, is a symphony of golds and grays, crafted with what looks like colored pencil. Imagine Westfall, pencil in hand, coaxing these stars and shapes to life, each mark a meditation. I can see her process as a kind of dance, one shape leading to the next. It’s all about rhythm, a push and pull between order and improvisation, like a folk song. Notice how the repeated marks create an intensity of surface, an almost hypnotic effect. It’s not just an image, it's a field of energy. This piece reminds me that art isn't made in a vacuum. Westfall is in conversation with countless artists across time, each borrowing, responding, and pushing the boundaries of what art can be. It’s this ongoing exchange that keeps the whole thing alive.