Weather Vane c. 1936

This drawing of a weather vane was made by Elmer G. Anderson; I love how process is baked right into the work, because it's a drawing of something that is also handmade. Anderson’s palette is so simple, like a folk song you can’t stop humming! There is a beautiful, simple geometry here. The Native American figure is rendered in shades of brown and ochre, almost like a wood stain. Those colors, combined with the linear quality, gives the piece this feeling of being solid and grounded. Look closely at the vertical striations that make up the figure’s skirt. It's as if the artist wants us to know exactly how the object was constructed. Maybe there is a connection to the physical labor of making the vane itself? This piece reminds me a little of Joseph Stella, another artist who saw the beauty in industrial design and folk art. And just like in Stella's work, there's a real sense of joy in Anderson's drawing. It's a reminder that art can be found anywhere, in the most unexpected places.