-Conscience Fund- still bank c. 1920

This -Conscience Fund- still bank was manufactured by the Speer Calender Bank Company in Milwaukee. It's a curious object, isn't it? There's a lot of green in the speckled surface. It’s not a straightforward, flat color. Instead, it's a lively mix, and it gives the piece a tactile feel. There are slots for inserting coins, each labeled with different purposes: a conscience fund, a daily deposit. It's kind of funny to imagine people dropping their spare change into this little metal box, hoping to absolve themselves of some minor guilt. It’s the texture of the paint and the solid, blocky form that does it for me: they communicate the weight of moral responsibility. It reminds me of the work of Haim Steinbach, who also takes everyday objects and reframes them in a way that makes us think about their cultural significance. It’s like art is an ongoing conversation, each artist responding to what came before.