Weather Vane c. 1936

This watercolor painting of a weather vane was made by Roberta Elvis, a prolific contributor to the Index of American Design. Elvis was among many artists employed by the WPA during the Depression to document American material culture. What might seem a humble subject – a vernacular object made of metal – was in fact considered culturally significant. Weather vanes index several aspects of American life, including weather patterns and agricultural economies. Ironwork, like that seen here, requires considerable skill. The blacksmith uses a forge to heat the metal until it’s malleable, then shapes it with hammers and other tools. Elvis’s rendering of the weather vane captures the heft and texture of the iron, as well as its patina of age. In a way, this painting makes an argument for the aesthetic value of functional objects, reminding us of the labor and tradition embedded in their making.