Butterfly

This butterfly represents growth and adventure, two things I treasure deeply. As I have shown in this box, a butterfly grows from a caterpillar which originally emerged from a cocoon. Cornell also played with the evolution of organisms in Untitled (Soap Bubble Set), where he depicts an egg for the beginning, a man for the middle, and a moon for the future of man. The butterfly also means adventure more directly because it can travel the world swiftly with its wings. I love to travel, and included an envelope and a small picture of India to connect to the adventures of my brother and close friend, Bridget. The oriental bookmark hanging on the left side ties to my travels in Japan. However, the most obvious element of travel I have included is the map mounted on the back of the box. Cornell also worked frequently with maps, as seen in Trade Winds No. 2. Though the map in this piece is flat, Cornell often used the globe and the sphere which I have mirrored with my frequent use of marbles in all of the boxes.

Left: Joseph Cornell, Trade Winds No. 2, 1952

Right: Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Soap Bubble Set), 1936