Happy Memorial Day

I was watching the artist Kaziah Hancock on The View this morning and thought how she is in a way the voice of Memorial Day.  She is the artist who paints portraits of our soldiers who have been killed in the service of their country in places like Iraq or Afghanistan.  She has been able to get a casualty list from the military, complete with family information so that she can contact them to get a true feel of the soldier she will be painting.  She personally has painted over 800 soldiers' portraits, and along with several other artists that she has helping her, there is a combined total of over 3000 portraits that have been done. 

There is no fee involved, it is simply something that they do straight from their hearts.  Kaziah is a goat farmer as well as being an artist, and says that she does sell some of her other paintings which helps to "keep the lights on." She did form a non profit so that does allow for some donations to go toward getting supplies, but it is mostly paid for out of the artists' pockets not to mention the donation of their time.  Kaziah says that she gets in touch with the spirit of the soldier, and with the information she gets from their families she feels that she really knows the person by the time she finishes the portrait.

The portraits are given to the families of these soldiers, and they say it is like "getting them back" even if it is only for a split second on canvas.  It does mean the world to all of these families who have suffered such a loss.

So Happy Memorial Day, and remember art is everywhere!