A Generation Box
Date1997
MediumCut-outs, paint, metal hinges, and wooden cigar box
Dimensions2 × 10 7/8 × 8 3/4 inches (5.1 × 27.6 × 22.2 cm)
Credit LineGift of Maria von Matthiessen.
Object number1998.1
Copyright© Paul E. Walker - Artist of Making Do Art.
The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextI made art with what people were throwing away. (...) Black people in this country had nothing. So I made something out of nothing.”
–Paul Edward Walker, 2022
Paul Edward Walker grew up in Savannah, one of seven children in a tight-knit family. President of his high school’s art club and an avid drawer, Walker was inspired to make sculptures after encountering depression-era crafts made from cigar boxes. In Generation Box, the artist depicts himself and Carl, his younger brother by 9 months, who was often mistaken for his twin. The portrait was based on a photograph of the pair dressed in matching suits, outfits reserved for special occasions. Against a painted checkerboard pattern, Walker inscribed the names of his siblings and dedicated the work to his parents, who encouraged his interest in art. Inside the box is a small, oval portrait of a young boy, also based on a photograph of the artist as a child.
Through Caution Box, similarly constructed from cigar boxes, the artist expresses his distrust of systems of power and media that “only show you what they want you to see.” The box represents our minds, nailed down and closed off to reality. Studded with protruding black nails, this work communicates with the viewer on a visceral, physical level, suggesting the pain or discomfort that would occur when the spikes encounter skin.
