Schafer's isolated stay on Assateague, a barrier island off the coast of Maryland is the inspiration for the work in Dawn Horse. Schafer camped on the island, where feral horses roam free, accompanied only by her arctic-looking house cat.

The human activity of attempting to invoke or harness the supernatural for protection through spells, ritual, and fetish objects seems particularly natural for Schafer and she creates hanging charms that accompany her drawings. Functioning as accessories to her drawings these objects bridge the worlds of fantasy and reality by existing outside of the picture plane. This seam between fantasy and real life is where Schafer's interest lies.

This project is supported in part by a Community Arts Assistance Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.