Steeplejacks (Growing Up Working Class series) 2021

mixed media 16x12 in.

artist's private collection

back story: During the 1940s and 50's. my dad worked as a steeplejack (workers that worked on skaffolds on high buildings, doing masonary and other repairs). It was very dangerous. He had a couple of bad falls. One was caused when he tried to reach out and grab one of his crew members falling from skaffold above, and went down with him. It was a terrbile accident. We lived in Newark at the time, my father was in a back brace and out of work for around a year. These were tough times for my family. My mom tried to help by playing bingo, always hoping to win a jackpot.

(artist's private collection)