Front and Centerpiece, 2005
Porcelain
Chipstone Foundation
Front and Centerpiece depicts the harsh realities of the contemporary “blood diamond” trade as well as the exploitation of children as soldiers and as slaves in the twenty-first century. The tiered form is an adaptation of an extravagant centerpiece popular among eighteenth-century genteel society. These intricate serving stands were adorned with shells both modeled and cast from nature to hold a variety of gourmet candied fruits and relishes known as “sweetmeats.” Erickson re-creates the shell-shaped dishes using “shells” from an AK-47, filled with images of jewels. Counterbalancing the oversized gems, which resemble sparkling candies, are images of armed child soldiers. This jarring juxtaposition mirrors one commonly seen in today’s newspapers and magazines, where news photos of war poverty and devastation appear alongside opulent ads for expensive jewels and other luxury goods. Front and Centerpiece also references early British and American abolitionist pottery, which was often adorned with transfer printed images of slaves along with anti-slavery sentiments.
