3 X 4 Pollen
2000, glazed stoneware, honeycomb
ceramic & epoxy, 14" x 22" x 22"


In 1998 I heard a story on the radio. A small farm in the Midwest was surrounded by a mega-farm planting genetically altered and patented corn. As the corn flowered the pollen from the mega-farm drifted into the small farmer’s field and ultimately generated genetically altered seeds. The small farmer re-uses seeds (as his farm had done for generations before) seeds for the following years’ crop. The seeds were planted and the corn grew. The corporation manufacturing the genetically altered corn seed, has a method of testing surrounding farms to insure they are not illegally acquiring their product or re-using their seeds. This is to protect their patents and guarantee subsequent years sales. The small farmer’s corn was tested and the Corporation sued the small farmer for patent right infringement. Ultimately the case was lost by the small farmer and the farm was lost as well