Diaspora #1 is the first in a new portrait series exploring identity, memory, and the invisible threads that connect us to place. Inspired by a family trip to Bolivia—my husband’s first time back since living there as a teenager 35 years ago—the piece reflects on how time and distance can deepen our relationship to where we come from. The word diaspora refers to the dispersion of people from their ancestral homelands, and the emotional complexity that comes with being connected to more than one place, sometimes separated by borders, time, or generations. His portrait is constructed from cut-up x-rays, layered into torn, rejected canvas and painted with acrylics. The x-ray materials, translucent like sun catchers, are framed to be illuminated from within—inviting viewers to look beyond the surface and into the complex internal landscapes that define us. This series reclaims discarded materials to tell stories of migration, return, and the enduring imprint of home.