(Note below)

Jack Balas, 1996-99; WESTWARD HO! (ENCYCLOPEDIA), oil/canvas; 70" x 54"

Note: I was looking at a map for the old Pony Express route on which were marked placenames where riders changed horses, wondering what is our contemporary parallel for crossing the great unknown? My answer seems to be knowledge itself, and thus this painting has abbreviations for a set of fictitious encyclopedias -- though the volumes are not necessarily in order, and some may have gone missing.