-Syracuse Savings Bank- still bank c. 1960s

Curator: This is the Syracuse Savings Bank Still Bank, crafted around the 1960s by Banthrico, Inc. It's a metal sculpture, currently residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Oh, I adore the architectural mimicry. It's like a monument shrunk down to a child's toy, or a capitalist's paperweight. Seriously, look at all those teeny windows. Curator: The work displays a strong commitment to geometric forms, a simplification of architectural details into repeating patterns. Consider how the interplay of horizontal and vertical lines constructs a miniature facade, invoking, perhaps, the solidity and reliability associated with financial institutions. Editor: Right, right, the "unwavering stability" vibe. But, isn't there something faintly absurd about reducing this grand architectural style to, essentially, a piggy bank? It's almost satirical. It begs the question, what is being saved and what is lost in this process of miniaturization? Curator: An intriguing point. Perhaps the bank sought to inspire fiscal responsibility through visual association with established grandeur. Semiotically, the building becomes a signifier of wealth, easily grasped by a young saver. Editor: Or, you know, a symbol of the unattainable. I mean, think about it. A kid diligently drops their nickels and dimes into this mini-fortress of finance…are they investing in the dream, or are they just playing in the shadows of high finance? Is it a training ground, or just a gilded cage for a child's financial imagination? Curator: You introduce an interesting socio-economic dimension, challenging the idealized vision of capital accumulation. Nonetheless, technically the precise casting, and surface finish merit acknowledgment. They exemplify industrial manufacturing processes, bringing high art forms down to a purchasable item. Editor: A beautiful piece of propaganda, meticulously manufactured. A charming little metal monument that, on closer inspection, is loaded with irony. Who knew a still bank could be so…loud. Curator: Indeed, the confluence of geometric purity and underlying tension makes it an object deserving contemplation, even as a child's toy. Editor: Totally. It leaves you pondering—are we collecting pennies, or are we building castles in the clouds?