Scaffold Seder Plate    2009

On the Passover table the Seder plate sets a stage for the telling of a story.

Scaffold Seder Plate was inspired by this mandate to tell to your children and children’s children the story of the Jews exodus from slavery.  A tradition repeated for thousands of years around the Passover Seder table.

Scaffold Seder Plate literally and symbolically elevates the five foods that are the symbols of Passover.
Bitter herbs (remembering suffering),
Haroset  (reminding us of brick mortar),
Lamb bone (paschal lamb sacrifice),
Roasted Egg (birth as well as mourning)
Parsley dipped in salt water (tears of sorrow) 

Scaffolding monumentalizes and defines. It gives the illusion of floating.
Scaffolding also brings to mind the hard construction work Jews did as slaves in Egypt.
Each dish on Scaffold Seder Plate is unique. It reflects and cradles its specific food.
Small description tags tied to each element bring to mind objects in an archeological museum. Dug up from an ancient past that we attempt to bring to life through the annual Seder.
The position of each element on the Seder plate’s cloth base is indicated by burn marks scorched by the brass scaffolding into the cloth.