The Number of the Day: 7,103

Charcoal on paper roll and the plastic American flag I received at my naturalization ceremony, 156” x 36”, 2023 - ongoing

Using my own experience of going through a 19-year-long immigration process, “The Number of the Day: 7,103” was developed as a learning tool to teach my daughter how to count. The tally marks represent the number of days I spent in the US immigration system before becoming a naturalized citizen. As my daughter counts to 7,103, we explore the meaning of time, being separated from family and what it means to wait for something you really want. Multimedia aspects of this project are in development.

Photos by Lisa Olson