acrylic on linen canvas, original, one-of-a kind, mounted on stretcher with edges painted and staples carefully hidden behind such that artwork is ready to hang
This painting was initially entitled,"Through the Valley of Tears"
because it was meant as a tribute to all the AIDS and cancer sufferers; hence the bald heads, the outstretched arms, the ladder to heaven and the angel in the distance guiding them through.
Note the one soul with one hand already firmly grasped on the ladder which will take him home reaching backwards to give his brother a helping hand up also. Anyone who has witnessed the long death process of a dying friend or family member knows how much their suffering didn't decrease their dignity as human beings but rather increased their humanity. At this final stage in life many have never been so fully human; we witness how much more caring, sensitive and compassionate they become for their fellow man as they too learn the meaning of suffering. These last lessons they teach us humble us all.