Weather Vane c. 1937

Editor: So, here we have Donald Donovan's graphite drawing, "Weather Vane," from around 1937. It's such a simple, almost stark image, and the swordfish design is fascinating. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The drawing certainly has a quiet power. The weather vane, specifically its rendering as a swordfish, transcends its practical function. Throughout history, animals are seen as potent symbols of nature and its forces. Here, we have a symbol used to read the wind, a maritime reference charged with layered cultural weight. Editor: Cultural weight, how so? Curator: Think of the sea – journeys, livelihoods, adventure, the unknown, and of the swordfish as a symbol of the sea – consider its symbolic resonance for coastal communities. This visual emblem turns to show from whence the wind blows: news. Wind as a messenger or carrier is common; from stories of trade to imminent storms, what emotional impact does this give you? Editor: It makes me think of seafarers and the reliance on the sea... dependence on the weather in general. And how something so crucial can be represented by something crafted and shaped. There's this tension between the natural and man-made, and this reliance upon natural elements to support people in their livelihoods. Curator: Precisely! And that intersection speaks volumes about our relationship with the environment and the visual vocabulary we have used to express it for centuries. Visual language can evoke a time, place and emotion and be shared. Editor: That makes me think differently about such a simple drawing. It shows a clear image, but that image points to greater implications beyond just what is rendered.