did i ever tell you i used to have a business restoring statues of saints for churches in brooklyn? back then, it became obvious to me that people valued those sculptures not only for their spiritual significance, but also because, during key moments of their lives—when their parents were married, when their grandparents died, when their babies were baptized—the statues were present in the church, silently witnessing their stories.

in a series i’ve been working on called “receivers,” i’m exploring whether art in our homes can serve a similarly active function for us as we live with it. rather than thinking of artworks only as images or objects to be regarded, is it also possible to consciously consider them works that absorb and reflect the narrative of our lives as we live it out in front of them? can objects of art bear a kind of witness to our personal histories? .

this drawing is called “receiver four: abuelita.” it’s an archival print on watercolor paper, and has what I think is a totally luscious, velvety surface. this one is 17 x 24” and is also available as 12 x 17”