1996

Named for Andrew Furuseth

American, born 1959

Named for Andrew Furuseth belongs to a series of animal paintings that Javens dedicated to obscure historical figures, defined as a group by their exceptional humanitarian activism or concern for social justice. A powerful photograph of Furuseth by Depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange attracted Javens when it was exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1994-95. This humble yet magnificent creature becomes a portrait surrogate for Furuseth, who was known for his work as a founder of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific, an organization devoted to the welfare of seamen throughout the world.