Morgan Ritter
The New Venus Mysters
At a farmer's market in 2013, I notice a potato that resembles the Venus of Willendorf, or who I so longingly want to believe resembles her. A few fabricators are hired in 2013-2014 to assist in the production of an edition of five sand-casted aluminum potatoes, with aluminum sourced from over 200 beer cans and other metal refuse. Upon reflection, I was more fascinated in the desperate desire to perceive this symbol of feminine strength and fertility in unassuming things, incidentally here in trash and potatoes. Over the years, the potatoes have felt sad, embodied, hopeful, imbued with an ancient vocabulary, unfinished, and underutilized. I've enjoyed playing with them in various installations, because as with many of my works, I believe my work is not done with them.
Group Show at Washington State Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Center in Seattle, Washington
Curated by Jueqian Fang & Hongzhe Liang
With work by Jason Hirata, Shana Moulton, Morgan Ritter, 小陈（Xiaochen) & 烟囱（Yancong）
September 10 to October 22, 2016
Becoming Versatile Smok at Ditch Projects in Springfield, Oregon
With work by Steve Brown, Jessica Hickey, and Morgan Ritter
November 15 - December 6, 2014
Lilac with potato in 2017. 
Cat with potato in 2016.
Potatoes also travelled to Mexico and back in 2015.
Potatoes also travelled to San Francisco and back in 2018.
Pieces in this small edition were purchased by Susan Cianciolo, Melanie Flood, Aaron Flint Jamison and Kristan Kennedy, in order to fund my first trip to Europe in 2016.
I maintain a Master potato in my garage!
