WATCHFIRES
24” x 24” x21”
Mixed Media
2021

Wood, LED lighting, paint

“A fire maintained during the night as a signal or for the use of someone who is on watch.”

The separation of our country has reached a dangerous level and a deadly global pandemic added to the equation has made it worse. Foreign countries actively encouraging election interference. White Supremacists marching openly in the streets. Gerrymandering and targeted removal of voting locations. Fighting the same civil rights battles almost 60 years later. Intoxicating greed and an insatiable lust for power infiltrating and tainting our political arena and religion. And manners and respect towards one another thrown out like yesterday’s garbage. It’s unacceptable. It’s hard for me to believe that individuals that paid the ultimate price to fight against the spread of evil, authoritarianism and fascism would’ve wanted this to happen. Those aging heroes and sentinels are now gone. It’s time for us to pick up the light that has now fallen and take their place.

Now more than ever, we need the Watchfires to burn again through the night. To light up the darkness as a beacon of hope, strength, freedom, equality and civility. To Illuminate the path that once was traveled. So people can find their way home. - V.L. Cox