Come All Ye Faithful
(tag 93)
A Rolling Conundrum
2018
Assemblage (57” x 24” x 25”)
- altar lamp
- three wise monkeys
- suitcase remnant
- porcelain choirboy music box (plays “Come All Ye Faithful”)
- plastic toy gun pencil sharpener
- copper wire
- red velour covered iron bench
- rolling table
Exhibition History:
California Heritage Museum, April 27-November 8, 2019
Artist description:
This piece is a commentary on the ongoing molestation allegations against priests and other trusted clergy. Here we see a brightly lit altar top, with candles glowing. On top of the altar sits a figurine of the ‘three wise monkeys’ hiding behind a cross, reflecting a stance of “speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil.” Below this devotional scene we view a dimly lit space (made from the bottom half of an old wallpapered suitcase), suggesting decay, neglect, abandonment. In this dingy recess we see three choirboys. Looking more closely at the choirboy figurine it becomes obvious what has happened to them. (BTW, the choirboy figurine is actually a music box that when rotated and wound up plays the tune, “Come All Ye Faithful”). The deep red velvet covered iron bench in front of the artwork further suggests being in church. Below the table top, and somewhat hidden, we see a small plastic gun pencil sharpener. Children who have been molested are eight to ten times more likely to commit suicide than non-abused children.
