Weather Vane - Horse and Rider 1937

Editor: Here we have "Weather Vane - Horse and Rider," crafted in 1937 by Victor F. Muollo, seemingly rendered with a combination of drawing and metalwork. It's striking how it captures a sense of dynamic motion, despite its static nature. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, considering its function, it’s important to examine weather vanes within the context of American folk art and its social purpose. They often reflected a community’s values and aspirations. Why a horse and rider, do you think? Editor: I suppose it could represent ambition, status, even freedom. Equestrian imagery has a long history connecting people with power and wealth. Curator: Exactly! Now, thinking about 1937, what was happening in America? Consider the socioeconomic landscape and what sort of statement the vane might be making. Editor: The Depression was still on, right? Maybe this weathervane provided a touch of aspirational imagery, of wealth and leisure, during a very austere time for many. Something to look up to, literally! Curator: Precisely. The image, in a public space, shifts from personal amusement to a shared declaration, a collective aspiration in times of uncertainty. Who benefits, though, from maintaining such aspirations, especially if they feel so distant from the reality of the period? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn’t thought about who this aspirational image actually serves. It’s like, does it inspire hope or just highlight the inequality of the time? It’s something to consider! Curator: Exactly. And how do museums, by exhibiting such objects, participate in that narrative today? Something to consider indeed. Editor: Definitely gives me a lot to think about in terms of the vane's role in public perception during its time, and even how we perceive it now. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Looking beyond the surface reveals art's place in reflecting and shaping society, something crucial for today.