-Fortune Teller Savings Bank - mechanical bank c. 1901

This is Aaron Kaufman’s "Fortune Teller Savings Bank," a mechanical bank made of metal. It’s got this awesome, aged patina that feels like time itself has been layering on the marks. You know, like artmaking, where each decision builds on the last. The thing that grabs me is the texture; the way the rust blooms around the lettering, like it’s trying to swallow the words whole. It's almost visceral, a reminder of how things decay, change, and transform. The metal knob and coin slot are shiny, contrasting with the distressed surface. Think of the labor, to carve those swirling designs only for time to break them down. Looking at this piece, I’m reminded of the work of artists like Haim Steinbach, who bring everyday objects into the gallery space. It’s like a conversation, an invitation to rethink the ordinary and embrace the beautiful mess of existence. The fortune teller doesn't tell me the future, it's a conversation on what the past can tell us about the future.