English: Title: AMERICAN RUFF

Series: City Flotsam / The American Dream (aka The American Deal) Artist: Jan Yager (b. 1951 - ) Detroit, Michigan USA Date: 2000 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Object: Neck Collar Measurement: Diameter 21 in / 53 cm Materials: Total of 943 pieces: (752) found clear plastic crack vials, (188) found white & clear plastic crack vial caps, (1) cast sterling silver tire tread texture bead, (1) 2000 USA dime, (1) 2000 CANADA dime, sterling silver wire. Techniques: Gathered, sanitized, sorted, cast, fabricated, woven.

While researching the 17th century “Triangle Trade” between Europe, Africa, and the Americas I began to recognize its lingering impact on the 21st century neighborhood around my studio. “American Ruff” is made with nearly one thousand found plastic crack vials. It is made in the form of the lace ruffle collars worn by the Northern European ship owners who benefited from the transport of goods – and humans – on the ships that sailed from continent to continent.

The edging of twisted silver wire echo both the lace collars and the barbed wire and chain link fences in the neighborhood today. An American and Canadian dime {Queen Elizabeth is on the Canadian one] from the year 2000 serve back to back as the closure to date and locate the piece, to reference the availability and affordability of crack cocaine - and to remind us there are two sides to every coin. –Jan Yager