Pa. German Chest c. 1939

This Pa. German Chest was made by Betty Jean Davis, we don’t know exactly when, but looking at the details, and the colour palette, it reminds me of process of folk art, and the ways in which meaning can be made using simple marks, like putting pen to paper. I love how the decorative elements here are laid out with such detail - the turquoise background and botanical images really capture something of the maker’s process. The texture created by the paint gives it a sense of immediacy, a connection to Davis’ hand. See how the the linear elements of the botanical forms create rhythm and movement. There’s something in the repetition of forms here that reminds me of the work of Ree Morton. Both artists share an appreciation for the ways in which everyday materials can be transformed through art. Much like Davis, Morton embraced ambiguity. They both invite us to see the world in new ways, and to find beauty in the unexpected.