When firing this sculpture, Erickson allowed the tri-color sweetmeat dish to combust in the kiln, falling limp. The brown saggar cylinder—a container to protect the delicate porcelain from the fire, smoke, and kiln debris—is blown out as if by a bomb or bullet holes. Red, White, & Blue Pickle is an analogy for the failings of the United States Declaration of Independence. The holes and fissures of the object are metaphors for broken promises of the Declaration to provide freedom and life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all United States residents without regard to race, gender, age, ability, and immigration status. Sears of shells on the saggar lid reference the geopolitics of conflict and fossil fuel.