I Thought the Streets were Paved with Gold 1000-pc Puzzle

1000-pc Velvet-Touch Puzzle featuring the artwork of Pacita Abad.

At Ellis Island Pacita Abad read a saying by an Italian immigrant that resonated with her, "I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I found out three things: first, the streets weren't paved with gold; second, they weren't paved at all; and third, I was expected to pave them."

The work of Pacita Abad encapsulates the fighting spirit of US immigrant populations. Her empathic representation is striking for its thematic juxtaposition of universal, systemic struggle with triumphant hope and immutable vibrancy in the face of insurmountable odds. Born in the Philippines in 1946, Abad emigrated to the United States to study at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C.