Dedicated to the memory of my father-in-law, Harry Rosefsky, of blessed memory (1904-2002), this portrait incorporates a span of four generations of Harry’s family. Using original ephemera (found papers) from a man who never threw anything away, or with photographs saved in boxes or yellowed envelopes, I used those materials to portray Harry, with the features I remembered most – his bald head with tuffs of hair on the sides, or his signature mustache. Look closely, and one can see my husband’s Bris in 1936, where he is being held on a large pillow by his proud maternal grandmother. With thoughtful conversations with a client, and by using his or her collection of ephemera and/or photographs, this unique way of capturing the essence of a person’s life can become a lasting legacy family treasure.

Collage; photo montage, ephemera, gouache, paper cutout. 22″ x 30”