A play on the phrase “Hard Work Pays Off”, this sculpture is a commentary on the culture of meritocracy and capitalism in the United States. Reflecting the flimsiness of the statement, the piece is made of collected scrap materials and is a very precarious interactive machine. Participants are asked to crank the handle, rotating the arm which softly smacks its plushy bulb against the sign, never damaging the plexiglass. (2012)

Materials: steel, plexiglass, vinyl, cotton, paint