House still bank c. 20th century

Curator: We’re looking at an endearing folk art object, titled "House still bank" from around the 20th century, location Minneapolis Institute of Art, it's rendered from carved wood. Editor: It possesses a curious and alluring form, doesn't it? It’s both childlike and imbued with an appealing, subtle craftsmanship. The structure seems compact, resolute. I see themes of domesticity, labor, and the American dream subtly embedded in this seemingly innocuous wooden block. Curator: Indeed, the material presence speaks volumes. Consider how the wood grain has been coaxed to simulate architectural details, how this relates to notions of structure and dwelling. There’s also a fascinating tension between function and representation. This isn't merely a sculpture, but a receptacle for currency. Editor: The 'house' form—a near universal symbol of shelter, family, and privacy—is cleverly subverted here by its purpose: to safeguard capital. It becomes a vessel embodying a deeply rooted socio-economic aspiration, ownership, and potentially, access, as well as barriers and inequities of those same systems. The very idea of building a home hinges upon financial stability. Curator: Precisely, but note also the compositional symmetry, the interplay between planes. The simple geometric shapes give it a sense of structural integrity, reflecting a desire for permanence. I observe a careful manipulation of line and texture. Editor: It serves as an entry point to discussing larger systems of power. This 'House Still Bank', initially a locus of individual dreams and family security, expands into a contemplation on land ownership, housing disparities, and ultimately, a pointed question of who gets to build, to possess, to call "home". Curator: Yes, this 'house' becomes much more than a charming form. It reveals through line, tone and material how something so seemingly benign reflects deep philosophical and structural relationships that shape who we are. Editor: It's incredible to me how one diminutive carving, a seemingly modest material form, can resonate with echoes of structural inequality. I found myself contemplating themes of land access and what it costs.