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A Child Sign

Painting. A yellow message painted on a black flat-screen television reads: "A CHILD WILL / LEAD THEM / AMANDA / GORMAN."
Two Choices: Destruction and Wasteful Defense Spending

Assemblage sculpture of plastic and metal objects related to war and technology, including toy tanks and a tin ammunition box, placed on a plastic green table. Resting against the table is an oxidized metal sign that reads in white paint "IRAQ / FREEDOM / 2003? / GOD SAVE US / BOMBING AGONY / [indiscernible] FEAR / [bottom line indiscernible]." Resting against the sign are two smaller name plate signs, one grey, reading SONDRA, and one green, reading TERESA. In discussing this sculpture, Minter ruminates on his time in the army during the Vietnam War and the mindlessness of weapons. In a nearby bundle of vertical wooden poles rests another metal sign, reading in white paint: "2004 ARMY/ IRAQ WAR 2005 / GOD CONFER THE / MOTHER & FATHER OF / THE SON & DAUGHTER / LOST IN THIS IRAQ WAR / TIME 2 1/2 YEARS 200 billion / DEAD 1850 WOUNDED 15000 / GOD FORGIVE US / BRING / THEM / HOME."
Those That Have Their Finger on the Button

Group of assemblage sculptures. Plastic tubing, painted traffic cones, and aluminum crutches form a group of missiles pointed skyward. On the tubes of the missiles are written the names of countries with nuclear weapons or aspirations to acquire nuclear weapons, including China, USA, North Korea (abbreviated NK), and Russia, along with the word "END" in red and black paint. On a horizontal black wooden board is painted in large yellow letters "GENESIS 15:13-14 / DANIEL / REVELATION." In his conversations on the piece, Minter speaks of nuclear warfare as "the beginning of the birth of what you would call the death of everything on earth, because one push of one button with all these powers can take us out."
African Village in America

African Village in America is a collection of sculptures relating the history of the African diaspora in America, documenting trials, struggles, and triumphs through sculptures assembled from found objects. Topics include but are not limited to trans-Atlantic slavery, the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, warfare, industry, religion, incarceration, family, American and international politics, and natural and human-made disasters.
Slave Ship America

Two worn wooden boards form the front and back of the sculpture; they are supported by a base of two wider wooden boards. The white painted lettering on these boards read "SLAVE SHIP AMERICA." A metal bar that forms a T shape extends upward from the back board, and an oxidized chain hangs from from the bar. A small opening between the boards is filled with a variety of found objects including a a small plastic replica of the head of the Statue of Liberty, a small replica ship, a glass jar, and a rusted metal gear. Several objects sit on top of these boards, including a small replica of the head of the Statue of Liberty, a small replica ship, a glass jar, and a rusted metal gear. A red metal sign with white lettering is placed on the ground in front, partially obscured by grass and the passage of time. It reads "ATLANTIC OCEAN / MIDDLE PASSAGE / DIASPORA / TO THE AMERICAS 4 EUROPE / BURIAL WATERS OF MILLIONS / [indiscernible] OUR AFRICAN ANCESTORS / [bottom line indiscernible]." A white concrete human figure is placed to the left of the sculpture. Several feet to the left of the sculpture, a ceramic figure of a boy is bound by oxidized chains. Several feet to the right sits a gathering of plastic sharks and planks reading "Jaws." This assemblage is attached to "American Hut."
Africa Motherland

Painting on large square plywood board. Black, yellow, green, and red paint radiate from the outline of Africa. With yellow and black outline, set against red, the interior of the continent reads "AFRICA / MOTHER / LAND." Two Ankh crosses, also outlined in yellow and black, flank either side of Africa.
African Queen

A tall, imposing metal figure. The body is composed of an L-shaped metal porch fence and trellis. Attached to the back, possibly representing the train, is the descending metal work for a handrail. Partway up the trellis, the back and base frame of a metal chair is inverted to suggest arms, on which a glove is attached as well as oxidized chains that hang to the ground. At the top of the trellis sits the remnants of a metal basketball hoop, where the rim is the head, and the chains are partially unfastened to represent falling hair. Two pickaxe heads are welded together to forge the mouth, the nose is black plastic with holes, and the eyes are two large metal oxidized inverted funnel discs.
Bloody Sunday Memorial

Large assemblage commemorating the violent beating on Selma's Edmund Pettus bridge during the voting rights march to the state's capital. Minter calls this a "day of infamy for our people to put their souls on the line and say 'I just want to be a human being and want the right to vote.'" Two long metal rods, arranged horizontally to the ground and parallel to each other, sit upon a series of vertical metal crutches and supported by additional poles, represent the bridge's infrastructure. A sign made of white plastic siding is partially in tact, partially deteriorated and fallen, and reads "RiGHt tO," "[]REE VOtE," and "SLAVE USA VOtE." Decaying wooden flats provide a walkable portion of the installation. Strategically placed are a number of plastic horses of different sizes and styles, cars, trucks, guns, baby dolls, and wooden bats, representing the "chaos and confusion" of the scene. A helmet on which is painted "ALABAMA / STATE / TROOPER" sits next to a painted plastic canister painted "TEAR GAS." The bridge culminates at an arch, replicated here by a tall white metal rectangular box frame, probably formerly a part of a home gym. Across the top of the frame is a wooden plank, painted yellow with: "BLOODY SUNDAY 3/7/65 GOD WiLL TAKE CARE OF YOU / 600 NON ViOLENT ATTACKED BY POSSE GAD GLUB BEATEN." Another plank sits above it at an angle reading "EDMUNd PETTUS." Down the left side is a wooden post reading "RIGHT TO B HUMAN" and down the right is "RIGHT TO VOTE." Gas masks are fastened to the left, to the right is an oxidized 'Heart of Dixie' license paint repainted over with yellow, and to the upper right is a toy white man representing George C. Wallace giving the signal to the Klan to attack.
Monument to the Footsoldiers

Assemblage. Painted wood sign anchors an installation of cinder block pathways and cenotaphs. On the sign, the top horizontal reads "1963 16 St. BOMB - CHURCH / HOME - BHAM AL" in bright yellow paint. Below, seven white vertical wooden supports with black painted lettering. From the left, the vertical signs read in order: "HUMAN RIGHTS" / "RACISM" / "POLICE FIRE" / "DOGS GUNS CUB" [sic] / "PADDY WAGON" / "BULL" / "NON - VIOLENCE." Bottom of sign reads "GOD BLESS ALL / FOOTSOLDIER" in white painted lettering. The bottom section is irregularly shaped, and at the right, a vertical section extends up alongside the white verticals. White lettering on this section reads, vertically, "GO JAIL" and horizontally, "2 BE FREE." The sign rests on two piles of concrete blocks, and is topped by a motorcycle helmet painted white on the left side and red on the right, with the letters "B.P.D. / B.F.D." in white on the visor. Around the base of the sign is a ring of red concrete paving stones. A conch shell is placed on the base and on top of one of the concrete supports. A path of cinder block circles towards the sign and then away, and on either side are cenotaphs built of cinder blocks and topped with red concrete pavers and conch shells. At the bases of each cenotaph is another red concrete paver holding a pair of shoes. On the cenotaph immediately in front of the sigh there is a lion figurine in a metallic gold color. On the cenotaph immediately to the right is a yellow bust of a woman in prayer. In the inner curve of the path there is a central cenotaph surrounded by a ring of grey concrete paving stones. There are numerous pairs of shoes laid on the ring of stones.
Every Civilization Carries a Temple

Assemblage in the shape of a four-sided temple and processional way. Temple is constructed of a four-gabled blue wood roof over cinder blocks, with red bricks at the corners. The peak of the temple is a wooden stepladder with three rungs on one side and four on the other. On the side with three rungs, the bottom third is painted green, the middle third black, and the top third red. On the side with four rungs, the bottom rung and below are painted yellow, the other rungs blue, black, and red ascending. The processional way running up to the temple is aluminum sheet metal flanked by cinder block curbs and six pillars, three on each side. The pillars are constructed of concrete columns with capitals of a concrete block and a red brick.
Junkyard Hot Rod

Assemblage of different objects such as pipes, bricks, painted wood, seats from different vehicles, and a steering wheel that make up the structure of a hot rod.
Crime Against Humanity

Red painted plank with black text and yellow outline reading: "CRIME-AGAINST-HUMANITY"; "SLAVERY-400 YRS-U.S.A.-WHY"
African Matriarch

A long horizontal bridge composed of wooden deck materials makes up the majority of this assemblage. The center post of the back railing extends upwards, forming the spine of the matriarch. Her body is evoked by a vertically positioned full-sized metal mattress box spring that has oxidized. Interlaced in the springs are a number of larger metal oars in various states of disrepair, two lighting components that appear to be from a larger truck, and two bicycle helmets (one green and one yellow). Her head is made of a car light, affixed with wire to a number of white steel rectangle grates that frame her face. From this framing extends four tennis rackets (two in either direction) and two diagonal crutches as adornment. The wooden desk railings represent her arms "outstretched." On the deck are placed a red motorcycle helmet, a hub cab, and a large tree branch. To the farther left of the deck are a stack of what appear to be large red plastic numbers and letters. Minter describes this sculpture as so imposing because he "needed to give all the respect he gave her. Without the African matriarch, this country would be in a bad shape." This sculpture is described as being protected by the nearby "Two Zulu warriors" sculpture. Minter underscored that when viewed from behind the African Matriarch looks out onto much of African Village in America.
The Loyalty of the African Soldier to Defend the Constitution

Large assemblage, composed primarily of a long metal beam, propped up horizontally on either end by concrete supports. Across the horizontal metal beam is painted "AFRICAN SOLDIER SERVICE IN - REVOLUTIONARY - BUFFALO - S - SPANISH - A - CIVIL - WORLD - W I II - KOREA - VIETNAM." Secured on top of the beam is a tin ammunition box, fastened with wire, and two leather boots. Underneath the beam rests multiple oil drums. On one oil drum is painted "GOD LOVES / FAREWELL / TO MY / BROTHERS / SISTERS / LOST IN / VIETNAM," with "1966 [with the second 6 inverted]" painted down one side. On another drum is written: "GOD LOVE / FAREWELL / TO MY / BROTHERS / SISTERS / LOST IN / IRAQ," with "2004" painted down one side. A clear plastic, hexagonal bin also rests under this assemblage. It is filled partially with sand, water, plastic toy tanks, and plastic army men. To the far left of the assemblage, a long metal pipe juts diagonally from the ground, set in a Christmas tree foundation, resting on a metal wheelie, and topped with an orange cone to resemble a bomb. Painted on this pipe are the words "U.S.A." in black lettering, outlined in white. A crutch hangs from the bomb. Secured, at an angle joining the pole and the beam, is another oxidized metal beam with wings resembling an aircraft.
Awake Sign

Deteriorating rectangular plywood board, painted red, black, and green color-blocks. Yellow painted lettering reads: "AWAKE / COME / tOGETHER / REVELATION / tRIBULATION / ARMAGEDON / JESUS SAVE / HAVE MERCY."
Slave Ship: Who Family Suffered the Ills and the Threat of Slavery

Eight pieces of wooden deck pillars, stained orange, stand erect and are lined in a row atop a long horizontal piece of scrap wood. The pillars, progressively decreasing in size, are given human form through the addition of square metal 'heads.' They are chained together to resemble an enslaved royal family--beginning with a king and queen, proceeding to princes, and finally being trailed by a baby. The sculpture is framed by larger protruding metal rods and chains that evoke a ship's sails. From the bow of the ship is affixed a small, tattered American flag.
Cemetery: Jesus Loves You

Large yellow cut out letters are nailed to a wooden fence that read: "JESU(S) LOVE(S) U." The letters for the word "JESUS" are spaced widely apart, with the last "S" in the word moved beneath the "L" of the word "LOVES" to act as the final letter in both words. The letter "U" is also placed beneath the word "LOVE."
Blue Tick Hound

Assemblage; sections of two by four and four by four lumber constructed in the shape of a dog attached by a metal chain to a two legged figure. Nearby on the sidewalk are a pair of bowls.
American Hut

Seven wooden poles are erected vertically in a circle, with pieces of scrap metal assembled on top in a dome shape to create a roof. On top of the roof is yellow, dome-like metal object, covered in painted black dots. Steel chains are stretched across and wrapped around the wooden poles supporting the structure, alongside ropes that are also wrapped tightly around the poles. A thick rope knotted at the end hangs loosely inside of the structure from its center, alongside a torn piece of cloth that resembles a partial American flag, but with significantly less than fifty stars. "Liberty 1986" is stitched to the bottom of the flag alongside other words. A pair of worker's gloves are attached to two chains hanging loosely at the "front" side of the structure. A metal rod sticks out from the wooden pole on the right of the front of the hut, with chains attaching it to "Slave Ship America." At times the hut is enclosed by wooden and metal walls, most notably a wooden panel painted "GOOD FRIENDS MEET" with an image of a pig, standing and wearing cover-alls.
Twelve Tribes

Sculptural group of assemblages made from found objects. Each of the twelve tall metal poles is stuck vertically into the ground and topped with an elbow joint from a utility pole. Some poles are oxidized due to exposure. In the grass that grows around the base of the poles is placed a red metal number 1 and number 2.
Unknown African Soldier

The sculpture consists of two independent sculptures: at the front, numerous found objects are placed on top of a round metal base. These items include rocks, boots, concrete figurines, and a sign, and a grave stone that reads in part: "AFRICAN SOLDIER USA IS 55. I DEFEND TO BE FREE AMAN (sic). GOD GIVE HIM PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM..." The sculpture in the rear is built upon two wooden boards that cross to form a cross or "T" shape. Various found objects are attached including toy soldiers, toy guns, crutches, barbed wire, a canteen, gas masks, a helmet, boots, costume masks, tattered American flag, gas can, and an oxidized sign that reads "MEMORIAL." A web of green wiring is strung at the top of the wooden boards where the two intersect.
The Killing of a Society: Princess

A tall inverted Y-shaped steel beam forms the body of the structure. A metal bowl forms a head, upon which are attached variously colored small metal cooking lids utilized to create a face on the bowl's surface. Two lids (one green, one blue) represent eyes, one red lid represents a nose, one white lid represents a mouth, and two floral lids are attached to the sides of the bowl to represent ears. Attached to the back of the bowl appears a corugated metal sheet. Small metal rods are attached to the sides of the bowl from which dangle curly bunches of wire. Two wires decorated with strings of black, white, and green plastic spray bottle caps dangle from the sides of the metal bowl. Beneath the structure's face, a cross-like steel piece is attached. As the two steel rods diverge from one another, a third steel rod intersects horizontally, connecting the structure to a vertical wooden pole for further support. Round metal spoked are attached to the horizontal steel rod. A chain is also wrapped around the base connecting the "Princess" to the companion piece, the "Queen." A circle of cement bricks surrounds the base of the structure, with a cross constructed of red bricks in the center. All metal utilized in the artwork is heavily oxidized.
Disaster Area: Hurricane Katrina

A long metal wire grate leans against a tall leaning wire edifice that encloses toy helicopters, hubcaps, a rubber chicken, several balls, a baby doll, flip flops, and many pieces of wood, and inside of which grows a shrub. On the wire grate is fastened four license plates to make a column (two from Louisiana, one from Mississippi, and one from Florida) along with a large metal sign that reads "OUT" upon which is painted "LEVEL [levee sic] GAVE 2005 / ARMY CORPS OF ENGiNEER / 9TH WARD / NEW ORLEANS / WHY?." In the front of the sculpture on the ground is a broken pink tricycle.
Disaster Area: Hurricane Sandy

A complex assemblage that consists of a large rectangle of corrugated sheet metal upon which is painted in black and yellow outline a labelled map of states along the East Coast from North Carolina to Maine. The sheet is elevated on multiple layers of bricks and concrete blocks covered with hay and it rests on a vertically positioned wire box spring. A long piece of wood juts out from the springs towards the viewer, and flexible PVC pipes are looped and twisted throughout. Two poles reach towards the skies, both topped with crutches, one topped with a hubcap. Two rectangles of plywood rest nearby, their yellow lettering now faded and indiscernible.
Testimony

Round, white metal sign with slight oxidation and black lettering that reads "THANK YOU / GOD / FOR THE HOLY GHOST / FAITH VISION AND DREAM / IN 1989 TO BE A WORKER / IN THI VINEYARD BUILT / BY YOUR HAND MY LORD / THY GOD IN LOVE/ AND PEACE TO OPEN / THY CHILDREN EYES/ AMAN [sic]." Attached to wooden post. Brass wire angel attached to top of sculpture.