-Wild West Bank- mechanical bank c. 1950s - 1960s

Editor: Here we have -Wild West Bank- mechanical bank made around the 1950s or 60s by Duro Pattern & Mold Co. It's an assemblage of metal components and takes the form of a sculpture. I find it oddly… violent, in a playful way. The merging of banking and weaponry is just so striking. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This piece reflects a very specific moment in American cultural history, doesn't it? The post-war boom, the romanticized vision of the "Wild West", and the rising prominence of consumer culture, where even saving money becomes a spectacle. Notice how it connects the "Wild West" to notions of American identity and capital. It prompts us to consider the narratives we build around money and violence. Who gets included in this vision of America, and who is excluded or victimized? Editor: That’s interesting. I was initially focused on the surface, the way it blends pop art aesthetics with the implied threat of the gun. So you're saying this isn't just about a playful, mid-century aesthetic? Curator: Precisely. Look at the implied narrative: a bank, a "wild west" sheriff, and a weapon, all merging within the framework of a child’s toy. What underlying message does it deliver to young viewers? What historical narratives are being normalized and what biases may arise in the process? Is it simply promoting thrift, or something more insidious about power and control? Editor: I see your point. Framing it within these intersecting themes definitely unveils layers that I had overlooked. Now I wonder, how would a contemporary child, exposed to very different socio-cultural narratives, perceive this artifact? Curator: That's a valuable question to ponder! It reveals the evolving landscape of values, exposing inherent biases, prompting a more critically conscious engagement with artifacts and perhaps inspiring necessary revisions.