Weather Vane c. 1940

Editor: We're looking at Chris Makrenos' "Weather Vane" from around 1940. It appears to be made of metal, and it's fascinating how the artist has managed to capture such dynamic movement using such a rigid material. What do you see when you look at this sculpture? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the materiality of the piece. Notice the way the metal has been worked: the joins, the hammered texture. It's clearly functional art, intended for everyday use, yet its maker imbued it with a real sense of aesthetic. Consider the social context. Mass production was on the rise, and industrial materials like metal became increasingly accessible. Is this artisan embracing these new possibilities? Editor: So you're saying the availability of the material might have influenced its creation? Curator: Absolutely! The shift from traditional craft to these newly available materials changed how artists could create. Where did Makrenos source his materials? Did he fabricate the form from sheet metal himself or incorporate salvaged components? Answering such questions speaks volumes about the maker’s approach. It challenges notions of the ‘unique’ art object and explores what we value as a society. Editor: That's an interesting point – seeing it as a product of material accessibility rather than pure artistic expression. Curator: It's both. There's still an artistry, but it's interwoven with the socio-economic realities of its time. Think about how we consume and discard things today. Are we creating a new kind of “folk art” through upcycling? Editor: I never thought about it that way! It makes you consider the value and story behind everyday objects. Curator: Exactly. This Weather Vane offers a window into past modes of production and encourages us to reflect on present consumption habits.