Two Lives, One Future

The painting presents life as a diverging spiral staircase. The colorful route stands for people who act altruistically; the dark route stands for people who act in selfish ways. At the center, the colorful route links to a continued path, signaling a future, whereas the dark route disconnects, signaling no future. Inspired by James Turrell's work of using light as a perception of depth and volume, the lighting is established so highlight and shadow for space and figures are well represented for each respective setting.

People do not change with lighting, color, or placement; it changes with behavior. This piece states that consistent, upstanding actions keep people moving forward, building community, continuity, and hope. Self-centered actions separate people, corrupt their own souls, and prevent growth. Each step is a choice, and the accumulation of those choices determines whether life is rewarded with a positive outcome or ends short.