-Mary and Little Lamb- still bank 1901

This -Mary and Little Lamb- still bank was made by an anonymous artist, and it sits here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Isn't it funny, how objects carry stories? This little sculpture, worn and rusted, it’s more than just a child’s nursery rhyme. I wonder about the hands that cast this, and what it was like to paint. I imagine the anonymous artist carefully layering color, maybe with a dry brush, building up a sense of depth. I bet this little lamb bank, it once gleamed with bright colors. Now, it’s aged like an old tree, weathered by time. The rusty texture, with flecks of faded color peeking through, it reminds me of patinas on old paintings. It feels like a conversation across time, each mark, each layer telling a story. And as artists, we’re always talking to one another through our work. This little sculpture has a unique voice. It's a sweet and humble expression that makes me reflect on how a simple form can contain so much care and beauty.