"Bird" Shelf c. 1940

Editor: This is Majel Claflin's "Bird" Shelf, created around 1940, a watercolor and drawing work. The single color makes it feel both modern and ancient, like a relic discovered in a vibrant ruin. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It's fascinating how Claflin blends the natural and the geometric, isn’t it? Birds are often potent symbols of freedom and spirituality, found across cultures and histories. Here, however, the stylized, almost carved depiction, locks them into the architectural structure. The colour is significant too, what could it symbolise to you? Editor: It seems deliberate, especially when it comes to the color; it’s almost verdigris. Maybe implying an evolution and decay? The birds are also an important reminder about the human element involved with cultural context. Curator: Precisely. The geometric motifs below the birds evoke a grounded presence, like a stylized mask. Those circular patterns? Might reference cycles, interconnectedness. It prompts thoughts about transformation, resilience... almost like an artefact found at an archaeological site. Do you agree? Editor: That's a helpful observation. Initially I thought of decay because of the specific tone, but framing it that way shows that transformation is at play as well, thanks! Curator: And that synthesis of nature and constructed order speaks volumes about cultural memory. Do you see how older imagery informs later symbolic usage? It's all iterative. Editor: That's given me a lot to think about. It's amazing how much depth can be found in something that, at first glance, seems relatively simple! Curator: Agreed, the layered symbolism is truly captivating, which shows our ever changing perception of the object depending on a particular context.