Z Bohom, a Piš (Go with God, and write). This is a Slovak farewell. Translated in English it reads: “Goodbye, and Write” or “Go With God, and Write.” This is usually said to the living but, when said at a wake or funeral to the deceased, it is said with love and hope that somehow the two shall connect again. In this piece, I focused on the souls of eight deceased individuals who I loved and who shaped my life – grandparents, my father, aunts (Tetka) and uncles (Svako). Keeping in the tradition of the Mexican Day of the Dead, I used family symbols and Slovak foods that best represented each person. And many times the symbols are humorous, because humor plays an important role in good lives. This print represents the elements of engaged people…they worked hard, played hard, volunteered much and ate with gusto…there was great care for each other and for their community, be it the park district, the neighborhood kids or the church. My grandparents all immigrated to the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, just like so many Mexican families. This connection has always fascinated me and helps show that our life stories are really the same. The only differences being the era, the skin color, the hair color and the language of the individuals. “Z Bohom, a Piš” my dear loved ones. This piece is my way of fulfilling that sentiment…my way of writing to them and in doing so I feel their words coming back to me… so the dialogue between us continues… Z Bohom, a Piš..