-Captain Kidd- (converted semi-mechanical) mechanical bank c. 1901

This painted cast iron mechanical bank of Captain Kidd – the what? – converted semi-mechanical? – bank – feels almost sculptural, an object that’s as much felt as seen, you know? Imagine the artist, hunched over, patiently layering these muted greens and browns, bringing the notorious pirate to life. I think about the touch, the texture of the metal, cool and heavy in the hand. There’s a tenderness in the way the artist renders the narrative, the story of Captain Kidd, in such a compact, intimate form. The almost comic rendering of the pirate’s clothing, his shovel, even the tree he leans against, they all talk about this constant conversation between artists across time. It’s a way of embodying stories, inviting us to see, feel, and think about the world in new ways.