The Blood of the Covenant
Tim Tate
Cast lead crystal | 32 x 32 x 6 in.
The mold for this piece was first made at the Washington Glass School, then sent to Berengo Studio in Murano, Italy, to be cast in lead crystal. From there it traveled to the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, to be included in the Glasstress exhibition, shown in the central chamber alongside Ai Weiwei. Then came Covid, then the war, and the piece was misplaced for several years. One day, with no notice, it reappeared at the Washington Glass School. It now takes its place in Imagining Utopia as a meditation on queer family.
The families of queer people are frequently formed by those around them who offer love and support throughout life. The phrase "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" is often read to mean that the bonds we choose can be stronger than those we are born into. The exact origin of the phrase is uncertain, and its meaning has been debated. But its resonance for chosen family is unmistakable.