Artist Inspiration
 
As a child, I never fully grasped the weight of the work that made my comforts possible. I grew up distant from the oil field, enjoying the luxuries of electricity and warmth, yet unaware of the immense effort and sacrifices that fueled our way of life. It wasn’t until I was 20 years old that I first encountered the oil fields of southeast New Mexico, worlds away from the comfort I had known. Three years later, at 23, I found myself working on those same fields, alongside people whose grit and determination would forever change my perspective on work and sacrifice.
 
I missed countless holidays with my wife and children, but I took comfort in knowing that the work I was doing would help countless families enjoy warm homes, safe from the bitter cold of winter. The oil field and its worn-out machinery, its rugged landscape was not glamorous, but it pulsed with purpose. It was a place of tireless effort, of people working into the early hours, burning the midnight oil to ensure that homes across the country could bask in the warmth I had taken for granted.
 
This bronze relief pays homage to the men and women who work relentlessly in the oil fields, their efforts often unseen and uncelebrated. The equipment may be aged, the landscape may be harsh, but the purpose remains clear: to keep the lights on and the heat flowing for those who sleep comfortably, unaware of the sacrifices made in the shadows. It is their sweat, their resolve, that powers our daily lives. For that, I am forever grateful.
 
Let this piece serve as a reminder of the unsung heroes, the workers who toil through the night, ensuring that we are warm, safe, and secure in our homes. Their stories are etched in every turn of a wrench, every hum of an engine. "Burning the Midnight Oil" is not just a tribute to a job, it is a salute to the spirit of purpose and perseverance that sustains us all.
 
-Mark Smith