Packed in a Trunk: Edith Wilkinson

Packed in a Trunk: Edith Wilkinson is a captivating documentary that celebrates the tireless work of Emmy Award-winning writer and director Jane Anderson and her pursuit of justice for her great aunt, Edith Lake Wilkinson. Edith, an artist in the early part of the 20th century, was overshadowed both socially and artistically due to the confines of her sex and societal norms of the time, remains hugely unrecognized in the annals of American art. Anderson’s mission is to seek long overdue recognition for Edith's incredible work, while unveiling the veils of their shared legacy.

Directed by Michelle Boyaner, this passionate documentary is a lyrical exploration of Edith's life, artwork, and the circumstances that made her disappear into obscurity. Her story is revealed mostly through the dogged efforts of her great-niece Jane Anderson and Jane's partner Tess Ayers.

Set against the backdrop of the early 1900s, the film offers stunning images and vignettes featuring the work of Edith, who was a prolific artist and lived with her artistic partner Fanny Wilkinson in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Provincetown, well known as an expansive artist colony, was where Edith truly thrived as an artist. The serene fishing village inspired some of her finest works, many of which were forgotten and kept away for almost a century in an attic.

Tragically, in 1925, Edith was committed to an insane asylum by a relative, and her vibrant collection of work and personal belongings ended up being packed in a trunk and stored away in an attic. This marked a final close of the chapter of Edith’s life - both as an artist and as a human. However, her story wasn't completely lost, as she was fondly remembered by the residents of Provincetown, keeping her spirit alive in their preserved oral histories.

The film follows Jane’s journey of discovering these attics full of Edith's beautiful paintings and other works, all carefully packed away in trunks. This discovery only fuelled her obsession to unmask the truth behind Edith’s life and to reintroduce the world to her work. Her encounters with the residents of Provincetown and their warm narratives about Edith only intensifies her efforts.

Guided by the letter correspondences she found amongst Edith’s belongings stuffed in the trunks, Jane pieces together her journey across America to locate Edith's artistic legacy and restore her great-aunt's rightful place in the history of American art. Alongside her partner, Tess, Jane treads on a journey of exquisite revelation, inspiring the viewers as it vividly brings to life a forgotten artist's love for her craft even amidst agony, repression and societal restrictions.

Art dealer James R. Bakker makes a significant contribution to Jane and Tess's investigations. As someone acquainted with Provincetown's history, he provides insightful contexts around the art scene during Edith's time and presents his own perspective about the value and importance of Edith's pieces.

One of the most moving aspects of this film is the emotional bond that grows. Jane's own journey as a lesbian woman and artist intersects with Edith's, and she interprets the struggles and triumphs of her great aunt with an empathetic lens. The film is a poignant testament of their shared experiences, of their love for arts, and their fight for recognition in a predominantly male art world.

Packed in a Trunk is notably Jane's love letter to her great aunt, an endeavour to amend an unbecoming past that had rendered a brilliant artist like Edith into obscurity. But at its heart, it is a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, a tribute to the many unacknowledged female artists who have been marginalized and forgotten over time.

Edith Wilkinson’s raw, expressive artworks finally find new appreciation through this touching documentary. Having a central theme of art being the pathway to understanding, Jane's heartfelt attempts shine a light on the discrimination and wrongs committed against Edith, all the while reinstating her rightful place in art history.

This deeply personal and captivating documentary induces reflection on the past while firmly championing for the rightful recognition of marginalized artists. Balancing the themes of legacy, loss, and rediscovery, Packed in a Trunk: Edith Wilkinson is a gripping journey, a testament to the power of rectifying the past for a more inclusive future.