Watson experienced an unconventional childhood shaped by her father’s obsessive quest to build a working flying saucer. His quixotic attempts, in which he created prototype after prototype in their yard, later served as the inspiration for Watson’s art. In stylized, narrative compositions derived from the visual conventions of self-taught, or “folk” art, she recounts her father’s efforts and their impact on her family.

Crafted on a paper bag, May 23, 1988 Monday, Sachse, TX, portrays a glittering silver saucer floating above a rural Texas landscape. A handwritten inscription accompanies the spacecraft: “Today was nice. We played ball, not long about five minutes.” The juxtaposition suggests how her father’s obsession marked even seemingly mundane activities, while also hinting at the tantalizing possibilities of interstellar wonders.

—Text taken from the Carter Handbook (2023)