The Watershed Moments series began in August 2017 as a visceral response to the events in Charlottesville. Distressed by the rise of hatred and division in the country, Qualls turned to her studio to process the question: How could this be happening? Working on a monumental scale, she originally utilized scaffolding to move across five eight-foot-tall vertical canvases, translating her grief and prayers into paint.

This specific piece, painted in 2021, continues that essential dialogue but introduces a distinct shift in perspective. Expanding down an expansive horizontal canvas rather than the soaring vertical scale of her earlier works. The initial layers consist of dark shades of blue, representing the weight of our history and the 'moments' that test our national character. The final, lighter blue and white layers serve as prayers—a call for healing and love to wash over the country. As we continue to face numerous 'watershed moments,' this painting remains a poignant reminder of our shared responsibility to look out for one another and the ongoing work required to move toward a place of peace.