Jackpot!

This sculpture is the anti-thesis to the virtue of charity within this exhibit. Charity is an integral responsibility to the functioning of many societies and religions. This piece illustrates the social effects of gambling with virtue, ie., with making the creation of virtuous humans a random instead of a purposeful act. It also depicts the actual act of gambling and the effects on individuals and society. This vessel pokes fun at the absurdity of a convention whose sole purpose is to promote the taking from many for the benefit of one. Or put another way, the active perpetuation by societies to create the harmfully devastating opposite of charity…. selfishness or greed. As George Washington put it “Gambling is a vice which is productive of every possible evil, equally injurious to the morals and health of its votaries. It is the child of avarice, the brother of inequity, and father of mischief. It has been the ruin of many worthy families; the loss of many a man's honor; and the cause of suicide. In a word, few gain by this abominable practice while thousands are injured.