Church with steeple still bank c. early to mid 20th century

Curator: This is a rather charming folk art sculpture here at Mia: it’s called *Church with steeple still bank*, believed to date from the early to mid 20th century. It’s an anonymous piece of assemblage, largely in wood. Editor: The word "bank" makes me think immediately of a child's money box. It has a kind of humble, earnest quality – you can almost smell the sawdust from someone’s workshop. I notice the color variations in the wood and simple construction techniques used, which look like they emphasize functionality. Curator: Absolutely. The anonymity, material, and theme very much place this in the realm of American folk art, imbued with deep roots in community values and handmade craftsmanship. Churches, as you know, feature quite often in iconography, representing both spiritual community and personal salvation. The inscription "Mr. Hair. Senior Dept." further contextualizes its likely placement, either in honor of Mr. Hair or gifted from the Senior Dept. Editor: It’s the contrast between the basic, almost crude carving and the elevated symbolism of the church that I find so compelling. I mean, this wasn't about high art; this was probably a very personal and localized expression, functional but imbued with values tied to production. How the object serves as symbol seems to become quite explicit as we observe both materiality and making. Curator: That's a fantastic point! You’re tapping into its dual existence—object and symbol, the bank and the church. The geometric shapes forming the building itself and the incised geometric designs—a stylized rose window—suggest symbolic geometry beyond the everyday world. This piece encapsulates communal history—visible labor made sacred, everyday craft rendered iconic. Editor: Right, so its value isn't aesthetic, it's tied to these visible connections of process. Curator: Yes. A truly resonant object imbued with layered meanings. Editor: Agreed. It allows us to reconsider beauty not as something separate from everyday practices, but deeply enmeshed within them.