”Our Legacy“
30 X 48 Oil
Originally intended to be a family portrait, Our Legacy evolved into this dramatic
depiction of a family making the westward trek as part of a pioneer handcart company.
Using all seven members of the “portrait” family as his models, David dressed the
family in pioneer clothing and shot their pictures pulling a model handcart through
the streets of west Centerville on a rare clear day in November 2001.
For added accuracy, at one point David made several of the children lie in the back
to add weight to the handcart. In addition to his human ballast, David had the family
trek through a snowy field for added resistance. The result is a convincing depiction
of a handcart family cresting a dusty rise somewhere along the pioneer trail.
Though early pioneers traveled in covered wagons, handcarts became a popular means
of transportation from 1856-1860. For European immigrants with fewer possessions,
they were a natural alternative to the covered wagon. Faster, easier, and cheaper,
the handcarts were modeled after carts used by street sweepers and were made almost
entirely of wood. Often fitted with covers, they were wide enough to span a narrow
wagon track, and could be alternately pushed or pulled. Made to be light, at about
60 pounds they were less durable than wagons made with more iron, but still they
could carry over 100 pounds.
Private Collection