The Happy Carrot Cult

This piece examines the relationship between spirituality, religion and the earth. Hierarchy in dominant religious institutions is evidenced by the three tiers; as one moves from the ground level to the uppermost trinity, there are fewer and more ‘sophisticated’ carrot-people, more removed from the earth. I’m playing with the notion of how institutionalized religions create a gap between the earth and spirit. ‘Happy carrots’ may develop their relationship to other humans but leave the earth and other sentient beings on the ground, as they reach toward God.

Simple ‘people/carrots’ exist on earth/soil at the base, grounded in their source (far left image) ; these multicolored carrot figures have uplifted carrot stems (looking like hands), raised in praise toward the next tier. This second (wooden) tier holds five more refined figures, in that they have heads and arms (human fingers) raised in praise toward the topmost level. (left & middle images) On the third tier, a metal platform, is a trinity of winged, haloed carrot figures that radiate with beauty and authority (middle & right images). They are ‘male’ in form, reflecting the current situation of patriarchal authority in religious institutions. The solo figure (right image) is representative of the majestic trinity, glowing with a spiritual aura and authority. Though transcendent from raw earth, it is composed of vegetable parts (ceramic: carrot body, egg head and squash wings), thus belying its true origin as earthly matter.

Size: 59” ht. x 23” wd. x 23” dp.

Price: $2800

Media: Wood, glue, earth, wire, paper, acrylic, stains, metal, lamp parts, slip-cast eggs, carrots, human fingers, pears and glazes.