Do The Work (Hacer La Tarea)

This piece is a hand-cut metal work based on a photograph of my son doing his homework. It’s a quiet, everyday moment — yet one that holds generations of meaning.

Homework is universal, but for many immigrant families, hacer la tarea (“do your homework”) carries extra weight. It’s more than a task; it’s a value. It’s the belief that education, discipline, and effort are the keys to a better life.

I grew up hearing those words again and again — sometimes as instruction, sometimes as encouragement, always with love. Now, as a father, I find myself saying them to my son. But as I watch him, I’m reminded that the work isn’t just his. There’s still work I have to do — as a father, as an artist, and as a person still learning and growing.

This piece reflects that cycle. It’s about the values we inherit, the lessons we pass on, and how they come full circle to remind us of our shared responsibilities.

In the spirit of Anima Mundi: Soul of the World, this work speaks to connection — between parent and child, between generations, and between past and future. It’s a reminder that we all have work to do, both within ourselves and in the world around us.

Thank you to @creatress and One Love Art DAO for creating this open call and offering artists a space to share our stories and celebrate the soul that connects us all.