CASTS:

12 life-size, plaster molds of adult females are kneeling in a circle, leaving 1 space empty where visitors are intended to sit and “complete the circle” by either kneeling like the sculptures upon a sheepskin or by sitting in a Constitution-covered chair mounted flush to the ground just behind the skin. Each figure is ‘tattooed” with a word on her chest representing fundamental core values (i.e. Compassion, Courage, Fairness, Intention, Laughter, Love, Optimism, Self-Awareness, Truth, Vision, Wilderness, Wisdom) as well as the “We The People” commencement of the  Constitution “tattooed” across her back. From the empty, 13th position a path created by small rocks leads through the circle to the opening of a tipi, whose diameter matches the diameter created by the circle of casts.

FLAGS:

Flying from the very top of the tipi is a 4’ x 6’ original American flag with 13 stars in a circle {the Betsy Ross flag}. 13 stars = 13 colonies = 13 moons in a year = 13 spaces in the seated circle. Surrounding/containing the piece at each point of the four directions are 3’ x 10’ colored flags {i.e. yellow, red, black, & white}.

TIPI & PLEDGES:

Inside the tipi is a colonial box positioned upon a 3’ circular table standing approximately 8” off the ground. Inside the cover of the box is the question: “To What Do You Pledge Your Allegiance?” and inside the box are 2” x 14” strips of white paper along with pencils, erasers, and a sharpener. Spiraling down from the center of the tipi is a string spaced approximately 12” apart with hundreds of clothespins attached to it where people are invited to attach their pledges for all to see and find inspiration.

Also on the table are four 3” x 9” beeswax candles inside glass hurricane shades which illuminate the inside of the tipi at night.  The floor of the tipi is covered with oriental carpets and pillows around the perimeter. Also to help illuminate the piece in the evening is a double-strand of LED string lights that extend from the top of the tipi to just above the 13th spot {i.e. secured via the East flag} which lights up the path as well as the circle of casts.

AUDIO:

Playing inside the tipi 24 hours a day {via a solar-powered mp3 player} is a 2+ hour loop comprised by assorted content aimed to inspire the visitor {i.e. recording after recording of people saying what they pledge their allegiance to combined with songs, excerpts from speeches, poetry, sounds of nature, etc.}.