Horse Weather Vane 1935 - 1942

Nicholas Acampora made this horse weather vane of painted wood. It’s not clear exactly when, but likely in the mid-20th century. Weather vanes are traditionally made by tinsmiths, or other metal workers. But here, the artist has used lumber. This is already a clue that we're not in the realm of purely functional craft. Instead, Acampora seems to be taking liberties with the traditions. You can see clearly the marks of making: the sawed edges, the joints where pieces have been fitted together. It looks almost like a child's toy, puzzle-like and full of character. The horse has a handsome graphic quality, too. Its flattened form stands in profile like a figure on a coin or an emblem on a sign. This weather vane asks us to consider how vernacular forms and techniques can be enlisted in the project of art. The value lies not just in skilled making, but in the fresh perspective that Acampora brought to this work.