-Destination Moon Bank- mechanical bank c. 1962

Editor: Here we have the -Destination Moon Bank- a mechanical bank made around 1962. It looks like an assemblage of metal parts formed into a kitschy sculpture. I’m struck by how playful it feels, like a child’s vision of the space age. What do you make of this work? Curator: Ah, a delightful artifact from the heyday of Sputnik and dreams of lunar colonies. To me, it's more than just a kitschy coin bank; it’s a tangible piece of Cold War optimism wrapped in shiny metal. I imagine a child, captivated by newsreels of rockets, diligently saving their pennies to perhaps, someday, join the lunar pioneers. Doesn't it spark that wide-eyed sense of wonder? Editor: Absolutely! And the bank being sponsored by a savings and loan company…that really grounds the space-age fantasy in a very real economic context, doesn't it? The contrast is pretty funny, actually. Curator: Precisely! It speaks volumes about the era's intertwining of technological aspiration with capitalist enthusiasm. It's like they're saying, "Reach for the stars, but don't forget to finance your dreams!" Were all the dreams of the day, truly within our grasp at the time? Editor: That's such an interesting point. I hadn't considered the element of critique, the disparity between the dream and reality... I'll definitely look at other "kitsch" art differently from now on! Curator: And isn’t it fantastic when a simple coin bank can open up such complex pathways of thought? Makes you wonder where all those saved pennies ended up, doesn’t it?