Weather Vane - Angel Gabriel c. 1938

Howard Weld’s Weather Vane, Angel Gabriel, made with graphite and colored pencil, is a study in simple forms. Look how the angel, almost like a paper cut-out, hovers with such a sense of purpose. The flatness of the angel contrasts with the shading on the post, which gives it depth, almost as though Weld wanted to trick us into seeing the scene in three dimensions. The angel's form is simple and the color palette is limited, allowing for a playful, immediate quality. There’s something so direct about the choice of materials, the way the graphite almost blends into the paper. Thinking about its original function, I imagine this piece catching the wind, a reminder that art can be both practical and ethereal. Much like the work of Bill Traylor, Weld's work shows us how the everyday can be transformed through art, inviting us to see the world with fresh eyes. It's a reminder that sometimes the simplest forms can carry the most profound messages.