Peter Buggenhout

Columbia County Historical Society, Kinderhook, New York

This exhibit of early hand tools and farm tools at the Columbia County Historical Society in Kinderhook argues for the expressive beauty of these objects. They are obviously handmade and made singly — the asymmetries are fascinating and add life to the pieces.

They share an additional point in common – they are objects to amplify the force of a farmer’s abilities, extending his or her reach, power, ability to grasp or cut. As such, they feel uncanny, almost as if imbued with their own force. I wonder what happens in the museum at night when it is empty and the lights are out.