-Magician- (reproduction) mechanical bank c. 1950s - 1960s

This -Magician- mechanical bank was reproduced by William C. Bull, and you can see it here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s so cool, right? I love the way the artist uses simple shapes and colors to create this playful and mysterious little sculpture. It’s got all these layers of paint and textures that build up into something really special. The colors are so bold, the blue, green, and brown, all playing against each other. I’m especially drawn to the base with the green steps edged in gold, and the teal front with the words 'Magician Bank' swirling in the center. You can almost feel the texture of the cast iron beneath your fingertips. Each brushstroke and color choice seems so deliberate, yet there’s also a sense of spontaneity and freedom in the way it's all put together. It reminds me a bit of the work of Red Grooms, who also uses bright colors and quirky characters to tell stories and make us smile. Art’s like that, a conversation between artists across time. It’s not always about making sense, but about inviting us to wonder and imagine.