Chess Pieces
Chess pieces represent an ingrained social order, a hierarchy of patriarchy. While my full chess set explores each role, I have also focused on the queens specifically.
Chess Set
Hawaii SFCA Collection
Dimensions variable
Ceramic Raku
I started this piece by creating the pawn. It made me think about how a chess set is a template for human social order and determines how everyone fits in, how much and what kind of power/movement they are allowed to have within the structure. The pawn was, to me, the labor that is the backbone of the whole system with little control over their own lives. I incorporated the chessboard into the body of the pawn in a way that is prison or cell like.
Black Queen
250
11-13/16" x 4-3/4"
Ceramic
Chess Queens proved the most interesting to me of the set. I have done several versions of solo Queens.
Large Chess Queen
375
15" x 7-1/4" x7-1/2"
Ceramic
Regal and stern, this large queen is double walled and her back side intimates armor as a powerful queen has to embrace her warlike and male natures, perhaps at the expense of the fullness of her self as indicated by the labial ruff surrounding her face.
Composite Chess Piece
250
11" x 4-1/2" x 5"
Ceramic
A composite of multiple chess pieces. A summation of the game.