Smoke and Ash

Smoke and Ash, one of Charles Steiner's most widely recognized series, came after a fire burned down the northern Wisconsin cabin that had been in his wife's family for over 80 years. While thankfully no one was hurt in the fire, the cabin and nearly everything inside was burned to ash, including a painting of Charles' that had been hanging inside at the time. Smoke and Ash, which features chared pieces of canvas superimposed onto the larger painted surfaces, explores the loss of the physical space that had been a place of home and family for generations.