Divided Light

Missouri's divided past echoes in its present. During the Civil War, neighbors and families turned against each other—a wound that resurfaces today. This image captures that struggle: sunlight illuminates only half the iconic arch, leaving the other in shadow. It's a visual metaphor for the conflict within us all. Yet light persists. No matter how fiercely darkness fights back, radiance endures. This piece reminds us that even in division, hope remains unbroken.