Collection III:
Carried by Hands
Carried by Hands is a wooden sculpture of a pickup truck, created as a tribute to the hardworking construction and trade workers who fill the streets of Newark each morning. These trucks, often seen driving out of the city at sunrise, are silent witnesses to the labor, resilience, and dedication of the people who use their hands to build, repair, and sustain the world around them.
Inside the truck, I’ve placed a cup adorned with indigenous fabric from Ecuador, symbolizing my cultural heritage and the interwoven stories of migration, identity, and labor. The cup is filled with white flowers, a quiet gesture of gratitude and recognition for the dignity of this work and the lives behind these daily journeys.
While the truck specifically represents a landscaper’s vehicle, this piece honors all tradespeople—painters, HVAC workers, construction crews, and more—whose trucks become their traveling companions and essential tools in their pursuit of providing for their families and serving their communities.
Through this work, I reflect on how everyday objects—like a pickup truck—can hold profound stories of perseverance, cultural pride, and unseen contributions that shape the spaces we live in.
