For Ozark Home I created a new piece called Penny Machines.

The call for art asked artists to think about the kinds of objects and art that we bring into our homes, how we curate our domestic space.

So,

I have a collection of charms that my grandmother got from penny machines as a child (similar to the quarter machines we see in grocery stores today). Each charm is very detailed. Some are made of ivory, some are ceramic, and a few are plastic. They were originally made as small toys for children, little objects that cost a penny and could be thrown away. These charms are so precious to me and got me thinking about how time changes the value and importance of an object.

The famous Venus of Willendorf is an ancient object. Many historians suppose she is a fertility object. Maybe she was a charm to aid in fertility or childbirth, or maybe she was a sort of deity. The venus is small, something that can be held in one’s hand. Was it originally precious? Whatever this sculpture meant originally, the folks who used it couldn’t imagine the importance and artistic fame the venus holds today.

How much time does it take for an every day object to become art with a capital A, and when does the personal value of an object become valid to those outside of domestic space?

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