-Be Wise c. 1912 - 1929

This weighty sculpture of an owl, called “Be Wise,” was made by the A.C. Williams Company. Now, when I look at this, I imagine someone working with molten metal, letting it cool, maybe filing it down. Think of the decisions, right? How to capture that knowing look in the owl’s eyes, the curve of its body, the texture of the tree stump it's perched on. It's like a dance between control and chance. What’s really cool about it is the surface, almost rough, full of imperfections. These little details make it feel real, like it has a story to tell. And that reddish-brown color? It’s like the whole thing is glowing from within! It reminds me of the sculptures I've seen by artists like Elie Nadelman. You get the feeling that artists are always looking at each other’s work, riffing off ideas, pushing things further. "Be Wise" isn't just a sculpture; it's part of this ongoing conversation.