Many years ago, punishments for horse theft included ear amputation, forehead branding, and death.

When I was young, a story circulated in my family which described a printed public record of some sort--a newspaper, a pamphlet, a circular, perhaps. In that document, a citizen editorialized about my ancestors, calling them out by name and saying, "They are nothing but a bunch of drunks, gamblers, and horse thieves."

I have searched for any record of this. I have scanned the family lineage in search of criminal records or photographs of a far-back great grandfather with "HT" branded on his forehead, or a great grandmother with no ears. All elude me. As with most family lore, the truth of it is questionable.

More recently, though, I learned that this phrase--drunks, gamblers, and horse thieves--was one that my grandfather loved to use when talking about the people we come from. "All our ancestors were a bunch of drunks, gamblers, and horse thieves," he would say. Was he using a line from the story he had heard his whole life? Did he make the whole thing up? To me, the truth of it is inconsequential.

I was reminded of this phrase and my family's connection to it at a time when I was both looking to get to know myself a little better, and I was beginning a new art project. It stuck with me. It felt meaningful. I decided, from that point on, any artistic and creative endeavor of mine would be done under the name, Drunks, Gamblers & Horse Thieves.