Dinner fork c. 1965 - 1970

Marion Weeber made this dinner fork out of metal, probably stainless steel. Looking at the flat, smooth surface of the fork and knife, I imagine Weeber working in a studio with specialized tools, meticulously shaping and polishing the metal. What was Weeber thinking about as she made these everyday objects? Maybe she was thinking about the history of design, or the Bauhaus movement where artists and designers sought to reconcile art and industry by creating functional objects. I like the simplicity and the repetition of the vertical lines on the handle. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's subtle, meditative drawings. But instead of ink on paper, it’s metal, shaped for a different kind of purpose – to hold, to eat, to share a meal. It is a quieter kind of revolution, to ennoble the everyday. Artists and designers are always in conversation with one another. This piece reminds me that even the most functional objects can be artful, and that the way we live our lives is always connected to the world of art and ideas.