1997
steel, brass, stainless steel, plastic
4' x 4' x 3'

The Arbitrator is a three-part sculpture composed of a "controller", a two-person harness and a stand. The Arbitrator defines and solves issues of failed negotiations including but not limited to power-control, self-interest, revenge and bad judgment.   "The Arbitrator" removes any inherent advantages one party may have over another by forcing both parties to set and hold to a prescribed period of time to conclude negotiations, look each other straight in the eyes, speak truthfully about all issues, record and document all terms discussed.…

Used as a last resort to conclude painfully deadlocked negotiations "The Arbitrator" adds a new meaning to high pressure negotiations:  Tactics such as stalling for time are eliminated by a built in timing "controller”. The "controller" is essentially a photoelectric egg timer that can be pre-set to a desired duration. As the sand seeps away, beams of light trip off solenoid valves that mechanically pressurize components on the sculpture and literally "lock" both parties into binding arbitration. As more time slips away more photoelectric circuits are tripped off and higher pressure is added to the negotiations. If a mutual understanding is not reached by the end of the pre-set time period, a flood of ultra-high pressure compresses both parties into the sculpture making the need for future negotiations irrelevant! The aesthetic and mechanical features of this sculpture are further enhanced by built in galvanic fingertip sensors to detect lying, external voice recording capabilities and ergonomic design for comfortable wear.