-U.S. Post Office Box- still bank c. 20th century

Curator: Isn’t it charming? What is your gut reaction? Editor: My gut tells me that someone saw an official symbol of security and twisted it into something… domesticated? A piggy bank version of state power! Curator: Exactly! This piece, dating to the 20th century, and residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is called “U.S. Post Office Box - still bank”. It's quite small, mostly crafted from brass, glass and wood. What intrigues me most is the almost satirical element—the juxtaposition of federal authority with something as personal as savings. Editor: Yes, a bank in the form of a U.S. Post Office box plays on themes of institutional trust, doesn't it? I'm curious about who would have been buying something like this. Was it a gift intended to instill the virtues of thrift in children? Curator: Potentially! Or a playful critique of the government’s role in personal finance? It presents itself so straightforwardly that you almost miss how subversive it could be! What’s more "decorative art" than something that's both totally ordinary *and* a bit revolutionary? Editor: Well, considering the historical context—the fluctuations in postal service funding and the continuous debate around privatization—this bank feels like a wry commentary on economic access. A child using this to save, then growing up to find that promised economic stability is as easily locked away as those savings... Curator: Ah, a little dark for the audio guide? Editor: I think it’s necessary! Art isn’t just decoration; it can also function as a mirror reflecting socioeconomic realities back at us, prompting discussion on who holds the keys to financial security. Curator: So true! On second viewing I have a bit of dark undercurrent too, now. Makes one think about all those undelivered letters... lost hopes and unfulfilled dreams of people struggling with basic mail costs in America. Editor: I like how art reveals more to us each time we look at it! And how those discoveries evolve through conversation. Curator: That’s a great ending thought. Yes, the artwork evolves each time someone experiences it.