Tin and Painted Glass Cross c. 1937

Curator: Well, I find this cross incredibly intriguing. Majel G. Claflin created it around 1937, titling it "Tin and Painted Glass Cross". It’s a watercolour and drawing composition, isn't it evocative? Editor: You know, my first impression is that it feels both modern and ancient at the same time. There's something almost Art Deco about the sharp angles, and yet the cross shape anchors it in this really deep, almost primal symbolism. It makes me think of both jazz age and old cathedrals all at once. Curator: Precisely. The geometric quality certainly nods toward modernity, doesn’t it? And yet, consider the cross itself—a symbol laden with centuries of meaning, faith, and cultural weight. What do you make of those squiggly patterns inside, almost like abstracted snakes or flowing water? Editor: Ooh, I like that. I was seeing maybe a landscape, but snakes? That throws a whole new light on it. There's something about the slight unevenness, too; like it’s hand-made with an intentional quirkiness. Like a secret rebellion. I dig it. Curator: A secret rebellion! A beautiful turn of phrase. It could reflect the tensions inherent in religious symbolism adapting to a modern aesthetic or even personal beliefs within the constraints of tradition. And speaking of craftsmanship, notice how Claflin plays with transparency in the painted glass. How do you see that play out, experientially? Editor: Well, it feels like peering through something, like a window, or maybe looking at a reflection. And the watercolour has a lovely ethereal quality. It avoids the sense of harshness often associated with more formal or imposing religious icons. The colours and technique add up to this vulnerable feeling. It has fragility, you know? Which… well, isn't that life? Curator: The intersection of faith and fragile beauty...yes! Majel G. Claflin delivers a multi-layered piece for us. We get not just visual beauty but a sense of cultural tension and evolution. Thanks for that personal glimpse, this was more than just geometric illustration, it was... revealing. Editor: Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I find I'm drawn in a different direction thanks to those flowing watercolour snakes, which are speaking volumes in a muted whisper of humanity, belief and its visual form. I like this a lot.