~ 2 0 a n g e l s ~

•

On Friday, December 14th, 2012, like many, I watched the horrific news of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. As the details unfolded, a news reporter interviewed one of the parents, Robbie Parker, father of six-year-old Emilie Parker who, sadly, died in the shooting. Her father tearfully spoke of Emilie's desires to be an artist and her quality of tender caring. Emily loved creating and presenting her handmade greeting, celebration, and get-well cards for family and friends. Given the season, Emilie had prepared for a part in the upcoming school Christmas pageant. She was to be an angel.

My design, titled ~ 2 0 a n g e l s ~ , was inspired by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, but more heartfelt was the connection I experienced with Emily Parker. Her aspirations as an artist definitely moved me, but--over and above--her part as an angel made it automatic for me. I had already started a series of angel designs prior the date of the shooting. For the next 24 hours, my mind was entirely focused on Emilie and her schoolmates. My heart was heavy, but my mind was spinning with ideas as I drove to church the next night. Sitting in the sanctuary, I sketched an angel, which came to me rather freely as if it had purpose: a gift for Emilie.

A Design with Purpose

~ 2 0 a n g e l s ~

for emilie and the children of sandy hook

On Friday, December 14th, 2012, our Nation awoke to the tragic

news of the Sandy Hook School shooting in Connecticut, where 20

school children and 6 adult faculty members were fatally wounded

by a lone gunman.

This design is to honor the lives of the 20 children:

Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06
Daniel Barden, 9/25/05
Olivia Engel, 7/18/06
Josephine Gay, 12/11/05
Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06
Dylan Hockley, 3/8/06
Madeleine F. Hsu, 7/10/06
Catherine V. Hubbard, 6/08/06

Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05
Jesse Lewis, 6/30/06
James Mattioli , 3/22/06
Grace McDonnell, 12/04/05
Emilie Parker, 5/12/06
Jack Pinto, 5/06/06
Noah Pozner, 11/20/06
Caroline Previdi, 9/07/06
Jessica Rekos, 5/10/06
Avielle Richman, 10/17/06
Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06
Allison N. Wyatt, 7/03/06

Remembering the 6 faculty:

Rachel Davino

Dawn Hochsprung
Anne Marie Murphy

Lauren Rousseau

Mary Sherlach
Victoria Soto