Notched Ovate Bannerstone c. 4800

This bannerstone was carved from stone by an Archaic artist, and sits here in the Art Institute of Chicago. I like to think about the labor involved in the process of creation. Imagine the artist with their tools, chipping away, maybe for days or weeks, until this form began to emerge. There's something very satisfying about the symmetry of the shape. Like a kind of minimal sculpture, or a handle waiting for a tool. The dark, earthy tones speak of its origins, and I can't help but think about the dialogue between the artist and the material. The artist coaxes form out of raw matter, and the stone pushes back, resisting, revealing its own particular grain and texture. It reminds me of artists like Brancusi, who also worked with stone, but it also has a rough and untamed quality that sets it apart. Ultimately, I feel as though the piece serves as a reminder that art is born from this ongoing conversation between artists, materials, and ideas.