MARY KENNELLY
Paired With: Eric M. Coker
Untitled
For this exhibition, I was given the pleasure of creating a piece for Eric M. Coker. At the University of Rochester, Eric majored in Economics and was an avid participant in the Newman Club and the Meridian Club. Because Eric was looking to earn his Masters’s in Economics, I wanted to embody his dedication to the subject by placing a textbook in his hands. Growing up, Eric and his twin brother Jason were known as the ultimate trouble-making duo, so I worked to display Eric’s spunk and playful energy by placing him within a radiant, warm environment. Lastly, to better convey this message of hope and grief, I placed the prayer that was located underneath his photo in the book, “On Eagles’ Wings.” I included this not only to provide peace but to also incorporate a direct reference to his brother, who was next to him on the flight that took their lives. This project was incredibly eye-opening to complete as an aspiring artist. I have lost many loved ones of my own, and I believe that art not only maintains the memory of those who have passed, but allows them to be remembered as something beautiful, and new.