Depicted here, an extra terrestrial-like figure with open arms offers a warm welcome to all humanity. This work was inspired by the iconic poem by Amma Lazarus inscribed on the Statue of Liberty –
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Through the image of a friendly figure with outstretched arms, the artist evokes the universal desire for all who immigrate to the United States to be welcomed on the shores of America. The figure’s prominent ears and wide eyes demonstrate the need for humans to witness and listen to those whose experiences are divergent from their own. Empathy is the fuel that has the power to heal and accept.