Well Done, Faithful Servant

Artist Statement

Well Done, Faithful Servant is a collection of photos that captures the bittersweet nostalgia associated with revisiting one's old stomping grounds. Despite being an uneducated man who was commonly referred to as "that boy who don't speak good" ", my grandfather provided for his family of nine by owning a successful vault business - a business that is responsible for constructing the concrete vaults, tops, and headstones for grave burials. Unfortunately, in the years following his passing, the business struggled to break even and has been inactive for the past year. 

Today, if you were to walk through my grandfather's cemetery or old workyard, you would see an overgrown landscape filled with remnants of the past: hand shovels hidden in grass and dirt, trucks with foliage sprouting from their beds, faded business signs, and finished vaults waiting to be placed in the ground. Everything would be laid out as if he and his crew had left for a lunch break but never returned. 

While taking these photos, I could examine the diligence required for my grandfather's success. My intent is to preserve the legacy that he spent his whole life building and appreciate how his work provided my family and me with the luxury of choosing our paths to success.

Photo Series by Grayson McDaniel (2022)