Shaker Stove c. 1941

Curator: Welcome. We’re looking at a pencil drawing entitled "Shaker Stove" by Lon Cronk, circa 1941. Editor: It's somber. Stark lines, and all the shades are grey. There's almost something monolithic about it, although it depicts an everyday utilitarian object. Curator: Precisely, Lon Cronk created this piece as part of an index of American design, a WPA initiative in the late 30's and early 40's meant to record and preserve examples of material culture across the country. It wasn’t simply about celebrating "art," but about documenting vernacular objects that spoke to everyday life. Editor: But why choose such a severe angle? The heavy shadows emphasize its volume and form, abstracting the object. It almost resembles a futuristic constructivist sculpture. The function seems secondary to the imposing geometrical presence. Curator: Ah, but remember the Shakers themselves valued simplicity and utility above all else. Their designs were stripped of ornamentation. Cronk’s severe rendition perhaps intentionally highlights this rejection of excess, echoing the Shakers' commitment to communal living and self-sufficiency. These objects represented a specific social ideal. Editor: Yet, despite the intent, there's something undeniably powerful in its form. The stove's circular extension creates an interesting visual tension against the overall angularity. Curator: Agreed. It captures the austerity and beauty the Shakers themselves strived to imbue their objects with—a kind of spiritual functionality. It’s also significant how the WPA saw value in these vernacular designs; elevating everyday craftsmanship and communal traditions, during a time of great national hardship. Editor: The choice of a pencil drawing in monochromatic hues emphasizes a particular, sober elegance. And while functional in the society it originates from, through line and shape, the stove also becomes a monumental artistic image to reflect on. Curator: Yes, the WPA project, like this rendering, preserved and ultimately canonized aspects of American culture. Editor: An unexpectedly emotive exercise for what at first appears to be a practical and almost affectless design.