Golden Calf

This series examines objects within American culture that are in effect worshipped as idols. In the book of Exodus from the Hebrew Bible (aka the Old Testament in the Christian tradition), there is the story of Israelites wandering in the desert after fleeing from Egypt. During this time, Moses leaves the Israelites to communicate with God on Mt. Sinai. Because his journey extends longer than the Israelites expected, they grow impatient and decide to construct an idol for their worship from their available gold. Thus the Golden Calf was born and the concept of false idol worship.

Moses, upon his return, was so angry by the creation and worship of this false idol that he destroys the newly received Ten Commandments by smashing them on the ground. God was no less upset and set about killing thousands of the Israelites as punishment. Such are the dangers of worshipping false idols.

Other objects, like the American flag, guns and our notions of female beauty, have themselves become idols of worship. With the flag, its purpose is forgotten and the values that it represents are dismissed amidst the misplaced veneration of the object itself. The flag and other objects within this series have been coated with gold and presented for worship as figurative Golden Calves.