Thank you to the O’Connor and Anderson families for their love and support.
Yishai Seidman read every draft, sketch, and half-baked idea. Our partnership is one of the true joys of this experience.
Dan Smetanka took a chance on this book, encouraged me to blow it up, then helped put the pieces back together. Dan Lopez and Chandra Wohleber kept their eyes on the details when it felt like I’d lost sight of the entire picture. Megan Fishmann, Lena Moses-Schmitt, Katie Boland, Samm Saxby, Rachel Fershleiser, Miyako Singer, and Dustin Kurtz got the book out into the world. I’m thankful for their enthusiasm, expertise, and hard work. Jaya Miceli, Nicole Caputo, and Jordan Koluch made it beautiful inside and out.
Thank you to Martin Garcia and Susan Weber, Sabra and Chris Goodman, Ben Leroy, Sean Carswell, Jim Ruland, and Natashia Deón.
Robin Lippincott read an early draft and offered timely encouragement. Blue Territory, Robin’s book on Joan Mitchell, was a continuing source of inspiration. Chris Daley read a later draft, and I appreciate her insights and challenging questions. Karen Anderson read everything, and her honesty and careful consideration helped shape this book.
Each week I have the privilege of being part of workshops with talented, dedicated, generous writers. I’m thankful for that inspiring community.
I’m grateful to the people who shared their experiences with art, from the healing to the harmful. Some of those stories were this novel’s first spark. As to my own experiences, I’m indebted to the work of too many artists to list here, but there are a few whose vision I returned to again and again: Agnes Martin, Vija Celmins, James Turrell, Olafur Eliasson, Mary Holt, Helen Pashgian, Chris Burden, Chantal Akerman, Marina Abramovic, Bas Jan Ader, and Lee Lozano.
And to Karen and Oscar: all the love in the world.