Inheritance: Privileged White Lady

Juror's Choice Award (3D Art)

Repurposed porcelain, bone China, glue. Sold

When my mother died last year, I sorted through my parents’ house filled with objects. After months of dispersal, there remained so-called valuables that no one wanted, such as figurines of Dresden porcelain and a full set of China. I took figurines and teacups, placed them inside a pillowcase and dropped it onto a stone patio. I reassembled the broken pieces to make this work. The sound of the shattering was indescribably satisfying, and this act of reconfiguration is possibly a metaphor for my entire life.

I contemplate the idea of what we inherit — materially, mentally, physically, culturally, emotionally — and most important, what we do with it. I inherited my race and privilege and I examine this in ways my ancestors could not imagine. Some things we inherit cannot be deleted and some we can remake into individual expression.