You can bank on it!

Arts Connected iPad Challenge 2

From cradle to grave we are a society focused on money. Banks are one of the artifacts that reflect that notion.

Artistic banks represent cultural aspects of the societies they come from. Look closely at these banks. What religious, cultural, patriotic, personage, technological, etc. themes can you see? Why have banks played such a strong role in our culture? What role might have the protestant work ethic played? What about our capitalistic economy? Benjamin Franklin's saying - A penny saved is a penny earned?

What about larger themes such as space and time?

"Birth Bank with Clock" still bank

Artist: Artist Unknown ()
Date: c. 1840
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 7 x 5 1/8 x 3 in. (17.78 x 13.02 x 7.62 cm) (approximate)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.682

What story does this juxtaposition tell? Why would a clock be infused on the birth bank? How does the coffin bank symbolize the old adage "You can't take it with you"?

Optimistic Box No. 4 and 5

Artist: Robert Filliou
Date: 1968
Medium: Mixed Media, Multiples, Other
Size: 4.375 x 6.125 x 3.75 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1992.137

What significance did pigs have to become the "piggy bank"?

"Radio Bank" still bank

'T.V. Bank' still bank, Artist Unknown (United States)

Artist: Artist Unknown (Probably United States)
Date: 20th century
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 3 3/16 x 4 1/8 x 2 3/16 in. (8.1 x 10.48 x 5.56 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.204

How have these banks tracked the progression of our society?

"Lucky Bank" barrel still bank

Artist: Artist Unknown ()
Date: 20th century
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 4 1/8 x 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 in. (10.48 x 6.99 x 6.99 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.791

Why were barrels important in earlier days?

"Browns Valley State Bank (hat)" still bank

Artist: Stronghart Co.
Date: 20th century
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 1 7/8 x 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 in. (4.76 x 8.26 x 8.26 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.277

What might this hat signify?

"Apple" still bank

Artist: Kyser & Rex Company
Date: 1882
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 4 5/8 x 4 1/8 x 5 3/16 in. (11.75 x 10.48 x 13.18 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.949

Why a peach? From what part of the country?

"Noah's Ark" still bank

Artist: Artist Unknown (Austria)
Date: c. 1900
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 3 x 2 3/16 x 4 3/4 in. (7.62 x 5.56 x 12.07 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.569

What religious significance does this artifact have?

"Our Empire, George V & Mary" still bank

Artist: Probably Sydenham & McOustra
Date: 1914
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 1 3/4 in. (16.51 x 11.43 x 4.45 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.748

Follow the progression of the next several slides. What story do these banks tell?

"Plymouth Rock" still bank

Artist: International Service Company, Cleveland, Ohio
Date: c. 1921
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 2 x 3 7/8 x 2 3/4 in. (5.08 x 9.84 x 6.99 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.957

"Patriotic Eagle" still bank

Artist: Artist Unknown (United States)
Date: 20th century
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 4 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 1 5/8 in. (11.43 x 10.8 x 4.13 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.202

"Betsy Ross Bicentennial Bank" mechanical bank

Artist: Al Davidson
Date: 1976
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 11 1/8 x 6 3/16 x 5 11/16 in. (28.26 x 15.72 x 14.45 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.644

"Ben Franklin" still bank

Artist: Artvertising Corp.
Date: c. 1928
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 4 7/8 x 3 5/8 x 2 in. (12.38 x 9.21 x 5.08 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.385

"Robert E. Lee" still bank

Artist: Banthrico, Inc.
Date: c. 1955
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 5 1/2 x 3 7/8 x 2 3/4 in. (13.97 x 9.84 x 6.99 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.386

"John Fitzgerald Kennedy" still bank

Artist: Artist Unknown ()
Date: 1964
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 4 15/16 x 4 15/16 x 1 1/2 in. (12.54 x 12.54 x 3.81 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.382

"Strato Bank" mechanical bank

Artist: Duro Mold and Manufacturing Inc.
Date: c. 1950s-1960s
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 3 3/8 x 8 5/16 x 2 13/16 in. (8.57 x 21.11 x 7.14 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.752

"Spinaround Plan-It Coin Bank" mechanical bank

Artist: Astro Manufacturing, E. Detroit, Michigan
Date: 1959
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 4 1/8 x 9 1/16 x 9 1/16 in. (10.48 x 23.02 x 23.02 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.755

Katherine Kierland Herberger Collection of Banks

Artist: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Date: 2006
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Observe the wide variety of banks in this video. Consider their cultural significance during the time they were made. I hope this final burst of banks gives you inspiration to start creating a Collector's Set of your own!

Reflection

We as a nation are obsessed with money. Banks reflect this fact and can tell a story of the past including the values a society embraced.

Create an Art Collector's bank set that reflects a specific theme. Be ready to elaborate on those banks you included in your collection.

Feel free to use outside sources for more information. Here is one you might want to visit: Mechanical Banks.

We will post our final projects to our eFolio sites.