The Energy of Theaster Gates

While visiting the museum, the sculpture that stuck out to me was "Sweet Chariot," (2012). This is a tar kettle in which Theaster Gates received from his father. As I was analyzing the tar kettle I noticed there being a flat tire. The flat tire helps protray the message of the history of labor. This kettle as an artifact Carries multiple meanings ands depths throughout history. The significance of the sculpture itself enhances the meaning because the materials is rooted by his own family history. it's a transformative symbol and shows the aspects of American life. Theaster Gates describes it as a "memorial to the history of labor and the ways in which labor is a beautiful, spiritual way of transmitting energy." This art is supposed to be used as a tool and the transformation of materials.