Stacked concrete casts of Nike “Air Force” soles are presented as a piece inspired by a passage in a book called “The Black Aesthetic.” The passage describes how the shoe was initially regionally popular in New York, Baltimore, and DC, sometime in the 80s or 90s. Nike had intended to discontinue the shoe, but due to the efforts of black individuals in Baltimore, who wrote to the company, it was brought back. This revival allowed the shoe to become a foundation in modern street style, symbolizing the foundational role of black people in shaping culture. The artist, Carpenter, frequently employs concrete in his work to allude to the fundamental nature of the subjects he portrays. Within the context of the exhibition’s theme of altars, this piece conveys its message in multiple ways. It explores the dual relationship that not only black people but all people have with commodities in relation to culture. On one hand, it represents the deification of material objects, particularly in the case of black people’s pride in this specific commodity, which holds a rich history within the black community. On the other hand, the artwork can be seen as a monument to Black people’s contributions to culture, history, and pride. Carpenter, as a black individual, incorporates ancestor worship into his work, paying homage to those who have passed away during our lifetimes. The statue functions as an altar, honoring both those we currently know and those we have known in the past. It immortalizes and canonizes our cultural moments, without requiring them to be ancient.