Planting Seashells for Laura

Acrylic on canvas

36" x 48", 2006

In my dream Rachel, Jacob, and I were planting seashells to fertilize the earth. Rachel and Jacob were arguing about how best to do it. Laura appeared. She told us she loved us. We could see that she was free of cancer, and was no longer in any pain. She did not seem very concerned about what we were doing, and wandered off quietly without saying good-bye.

The details are expressed in the manner of the Unicorn Tapestries. On display at the Cloisters, these tapestries were Laura’s favorite works in the Metropolitan Museum’s vast medieval collection.