At a concert of Daniel Goode’s music, in a Chelsea church, Katz noticed the paintings of saints at the back of the stage, and thought “I could use that.” A viewing of the art of his Music and Art High School classmate Phyllis Baron Platner also influenced Katz to adopt some aspects of Christian iconography for his own expressive purposes. The halos have the effect of spotlighting the faces of his models, helping Katz to capture something of their humanity and personality.