A Dream Reimagined: Voices of the Journey

41" w x 61“ h

In A Dream Reimagined: Voices of the Journey, the artist intertwines the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the ongoing struggles and hopes of immigration, justice, and identity. Created in response to the revocation of MLK Day, this work stands as both a tribute to Dr. King’s vision and a bold statement on the complexities of our modern world—challenging division while celebrating resilience, progress, and the shared human experience.

At the left center of the composition, a black-and-white photograph of a mountain transforms into the profile of a woman, her gaze lifted with optimism and quiet determination. She represents the hopeful beginning of every journey, a maternal presence guiding those in search of a brighter future. Rising from the mountain’s rugged landscape, her image embodies the strength and promise of all who venture into the unknown—a tribute to immigrants who have shaped, and continue to shape, the fabric of history.

A small, vintage IQ tester appears within the work, subtly critiquing society’s reliance on arbitrary measures of worth. Here, it speaks to the absurdity of defining human potential within narrow frameworks, ignoring the depth of individual journeys and the richness of experience that cannot be quantified. It questions the very systems that dictate who belongs and who is worthy—challenging us to rethink our definitions of intelligence, value, and contribution.

At the top of a rooftop, a bishop chess piece stands in quiet authority. A reference to the controversial moment during President Trump’s inauguration, where Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivered a sermon calling for compassion and justice for immigrants, marginalized communities, and the vulnerable, the bishop here becomes a symbol of moral leadership. Positioned at the peak, she reminds us that true leadership does not divide—it elevates. Like Dr. King, like all visionaries before and after him, she stands at the highest point, calling us to a world built not on fear, but on unity, hope, and unwavering compassion.

To the right of the composition, a dimensional paper sculpture of a dancing figure adds an unexpected and playful presence, breaking the boundaries of the traditional canvas. With its fluid motion and whimsical form, the person embodies the universal nature of movement, migration, and transformation. It speaks to the way we all exist as travelers, as beings navigating new landscapes, embracing change, seeking belonging. In this figure, we see a reflection of joy, of resilience, of the freedom that comes when we allow ourselves to move beyond borders—both real and imagined.

Surrounding the composition, black-and-white photographs of families and horses ground the piece in the historical reality of migration. The horses—symbols of endurance, freedom, and movement—carry the weight of displacement and perseverance, an echo of the journeys taken by so many in search of dignity, opportunity, and home. 

Ultimately, A Dream Reimagined is a visual manifesto—one that calls us to continue Dr. King’s dream, to recognize progress as something collective, something built with many hands, something that belongs to all of us. It challenges us to see beyond divisions, to value each journey, to reaffirm the belief that love, resilience, and equality are the cornerstones of a truly united world.

Standing before this piece, one does not simply observe history. One feels its momentum, its heartbeat, its call to move together.