Without Liberty and Justice for All
Crime Bill
“Crime Bill” is a "diagram" of the mousetrap nature of drug laws. In recent decades, crime bills that mandate harsh prison sentences dramatically increased the numbers of incarcerated people of color in the U.S. Cocaine offences, committed mostly by white, relatively affluent people receive lighter punishment than crack offenses. In this piece a bowl of crack, suspended as a lure, is held up with the weight of bones, intending to evoke the lives damaged by these policies. A bowl of yellow roses offers a prayer for healing the damage caused by racism. 1995 - 2002
Materials: pulleys, gold chain, shackles, rib bones, bars, white rocks, bullet shells, roses in bowl
Materials: pulleys, gold chain, shackles, rib bones, bars, white rocks, bullet shells, roses in bowl
Lite Agendas
“Lite Agendas” is a metaphorical look at the structure of class and race in our society. A white substance is injected from above while the pitchforks of laborers harvest white powder below. The bars represent the prison system as well as other social constraints and divisions among groups of people. The hypodermic syringes suggest the forces of consumption and power. White powders (e.g., sugar, flour, pharmaceuticals, cocaine, crack) are a product of technological refinement and are also addictive. 1995 - 2002
Materials: Aluminum Circle, 60cc hypodermic syringes, Bowl filled with smashed gold Christmas bulbs,
Bars, Lock, Bowl of white powder, Pitchforks, Plexi sheet Dirt
Materials: Aluminum Circle, 60cc hypodermic syringes, Bowl filled with smashed gold Christmas bulbs,
Bars, Lock, Bowl of white powder, Pitchforks, Plexi sheet Dirt
Criminal Profits
“Criminal Profits” is a system of cages that turns babies into cash. I made this piece as a response to knowing that prisons are currently being planned for people who are now only three years old. The prison system is the largest construction project within the U.S. Large profits are derived from prison construction, the supporting industries and prison labor while human beings are warehoused in cages. 2002
Materials: Funnel filled with toy babies, ceramic hearts, cages, bones, toy trucks, gold bricks, flags, globe covered with military toys, old whisky bottle in shape of liberty bell, silver piggy bank, flags, shredded money, plastic tube.
Materials: Funnel filled with toy babies, ceramic hearts, cages, bones, toy trucks, gold bricks, flags, globe covered with military toys, old whisky bottle in shape of liberty bell, silver piggy bank, flags, shredded money, plastic tube.
Supermax Christianity
Supermac Christianity, created in 2000, contemplates the complex history of Christianity. The institutions and teachings of Christianity have been a source of both oppression and liberation. A structure of gold bars imprison a statue of Jesus with dreadlocks, hearts and crucifixes. Outside the "prison" structure, toy lambs and action figures cavort together. created 2000
Materials: Crosses, clay hearts, fake blood, toy lambs, soldiers, Jesus statue with dreads.
Materials: Crosses, clay hearts, fake blood, toy lambs, soldiers, Jesus statue with dreads.