The liberal humanist, what’s left of him, keeps small portraits of his grandchildren on the desk to help him continue believing in the value of human beings, individually and collectively.

Often during daylight hours he finds himself talking to people who have no idea what he’s talking about, people not only incapable of defining liberal humanism but who don’t show the slightest interest in its definition.

The liberal humanist is tempted to emphasize decline – his own and others’ – while yearning to import a more positive message.

Hallway, 2nd floor, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, November 2, 2017.