Balance is a law of nature. Its absence renders art gauche, design becomes unremarkable. And in life, a lack of balance can lead to deep unfulfillment. The two pieces of folk art from the HEW Collection explore the connection between opposing activities: work and play; and aesthetic: function and frivolity. 

 

Hobby horses have been used in play since the Middle Ages. Their use requires childhood abandon as the rider takes on the roles of both person and pony. Symbolically, hobby horses represent freedom, adventure and joy. The piece in this collection includes an additional layer of whimsy as the animal is a moose instead of the traditional horse. The exaggerated and inflated antlers invite the rider to imagine what mounting such a creature might entail. 

 

The overstated hobby moose leans against a set of austere yet perfectly functional milking stools from the early 20th century. These stools fashioned throughout history for a specific chore, now represent a modern design aesthetic. 

 

The hobby moose and the milking stools were once built for the diametrical ends of human occupation. Yet today, their presence in the HEW Collection has highlighted their commonality in design. These objects reflect the necessary balance in the spectrum of human behavior but also the need for balance in construction, textures and aesthetic.