Flux Music Box c. mid 1960s

Curator: Joe Jones, born in 1909, created this intriguing piece, "Flux Music Box," held by the Harvard Art Museums. It's relatively small, about 9 x 12 cm. Editor: My first thought is: this is playfully melancholic, like a broken machine trying to spell something profound with its gears. Curator: Precisely! It embodies fluxus ideals, challenging the traditional notions of art and inviting interaction. Note the use of everyday materials. Editor: It looks so fragile, a delicate dance between the mechanical and the handmade. I wonder what sort of music it plays, or *played*. Curator: The mechanisms are meant to create a sense of change, reflecting society itself. The "music box" aspect challenges the commodification of art. Editor: Like a broken promise of harmony... I love the idea of capturing a moment in time with a broken machine. It feels very human. Curator: Exactly, we can think of it as a challenge to pre-conceived notions. Editor: A challenge accepted. Thanks for this intriguing observation!