Family Tree, Jukebox of My Genes
acrylic, 18 x 24

Do you ever stand by a gravestone and notice it’s shaped like a jukebox? Do you hear the music they
heard, smell the food they celebrated? Hear the laughter and the character of their humor? Do you
know the hardships they overcame with that humor?  If you don’t, maybe you should look into your
family tree, or ask any living relative about those who came before. Not only may it surprise you, but it
may answer many questions, such as why the diverse food and drink and music preferences of your
family are such a puzzle. Why your heart pounds when your eyes see the land, sky, sea, or cityscape
associated with where they came from, or where they arrived.

I was born San Franciscan, but with roots in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Korea, Hawaii, Russia,
France, Cherokee America, Scotland, Ireland, and England, my jukebox has many catchy tunes. On any
day, I don’t know which one will be playing in my head. But it’s a party of ancestors.