[1] She collaborated on films with notable artists such as John Steinbeck, Emilio Fernández, Harry Partch, Paul Severson and Edward Bland.
Tourtelot also studied journalism and worked as a film critic, and a painter, jeweler, photographer, sculptor and printmaker.
[2][3] Born in Alameda, California[2] as Madeline Hanson, Tourtelot moved to Evanston, Illinois, as a young child.
Tourtelot grew up in a musical family (her adoptive father was a classical pianist) and was drawn to the arts at an early age.
Her close proximity to the galleries and museums in Chicago led her to pursue post-secondary studies in fine art.
In 1957, Tourtelot met American composer Harry Partch through Robert Kostka, who was the art director at WTTW-TV in Chicago.
[1] Tourtelot also collaborated with Chicago jazz musician Paul Severson on The Poet's Return (1962) and Two Cats- One Chick (1962).