August 16, 2008
We've had a tragedy strike our community this week. One of our high school students was struck by a car as he pulled out of 7-11. A previous heart condition caused the impact of his airbag to stop his heart and he died immediately. Our boys know the family and the older son. There is a shrine in front of the 7-11. It's the kind that seem to pop up in our community whenever a loved one is lost. This one has posters made by high school friends, flowers, duck decoys, religious symbols, and even a Slurpee Big Gulp. His friends and family members used symbolic gestures to express themselves through their grief and horror over this sudden loss. It's what artists do when completing a project.
Unless a work is commissioned, art tends to come from somewhere inside. A place where thoughts and feelings are lying in wait needing to be expressed in some way. Artists use whatever medium they work in, poets use words, grieving family members use symbols of love. I have two boys of my own. I can't even begin to imagine. The piece pictured here is called "He's a Star". Isn't that how we all feel about our children?
I pray for Mikey's family. I fervently hope they are able to find some refuge in the coming months. Though I can't imagine how they will.
1 comment:
While the story behind this piece is just so sad, the piece itself is amazing. I would love to hear a little more about your choices behind each part of this piece.
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