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This will be my donation to the fundraiser, "Artists For Emanuel".
It will be available for online auction starting November 4, 2015.
I am truly humbled by this experience and hope to bring honor to those of Mother Emanuel AME Church. They displayed their love and devotion and their faith in God with their forgiveness despite their pain.
It was Wednesday July 1st when I arrived downtown, early, to set up and paint with our Plein Air Painting group that I first saw the church since Dylann Roof opened fire on that fateful night. The Emanuel congregants exercised their true Faith and set the tone for the world when they forgave their attacker instead of retaliate. The out-pour of love and support by the Charlestonians and out-of-town visitors paying their respects was overwhelming. There are just no words to describe it; except that it was on display before my eyes in the flowers, momentos, American Flags and endless visitors paying their respects. . . . I just had to paint that. I am reminded of the story when Jesus was sitting with his host at a dinner party when all of a sudden a woman came in and broke open an alabaster jar full of very expensive fragrant perfume made of nard and poured it all over Jesus. At His feet she cried tears and used her hair and kisses to wipe and clean His feet. It made everyone in attendance angry but Jesus said she did it for His burial. [see Mark 14:3-6]
Her tribute would be an everlasting memorial to Him. What I experienced with my heart and saw with my eyes, at the "feet" of Mother Emanuel, was reminiscent of the woman's tribute.
My heart swells with pride and awe at the humanity of this special church and of the people of this City we call home.
The full story can be read here: Mary's Paintings: July 2015
