Notes for a Son
ink on paper, inkjet prints, aluminum, glass, vinyl
2021

In my family research I discovered a letter written by my great-great-grandfather Arthur to his son, my great-grandfather Erwin. After the death of his wife, Arthur abandoned Erwin, leaving him to live with an abusive couple in Philadelphia. The letter was written to Erwin when he was 33 years old and just a year before Arthur died. Notes for a Son is a record of a month-long daily practice of trying to learn Arthur’s handwriting by copying the letter—practicing each word over and over. The handwriting practice is paired with daily reflections about my interactions with my own son.