Jeanne Harris Weaver

September 9, 2010

Oil painting
24"x18"

Artist Statement: It was eight years ago at dawn when the Captain and Chaplain came to my door. I first saw them in the side light. I froze. Seconds passed as Todd’s life raced before me. I felt God’s presence that day and the following days. His presence made reality bearable.

I was born with a gift to create art. Thankfully, at some point in my life I chose to exploit that gift. When Todd was killed September 9, 2010 in Afghanistan, my studio closed. Four months later, I was compelled to open it. I would not paint the ugliness of his death. I would paint the beauty of his life and commemorate the honor in his ultimate sacrifice for our country. I painted seven days a week, ten hours a day taking time out only for family gatherings. I cried. I painted. I continued to feel God’s love through the process. I was using His gift to see me through those deep dark days. I allowed myself the time to grieve. The paintings would be a permanent remembrance of Todd’s beautiful life. The process of painting would eventually bring me peace.

Bio: In one year’s time, Jeanne Harris Weaver created 21 oil paintings in memory of her son. The first seventeen paintings were exhibited by The Muscarelle Museum of Art at The College of William and Mary for two months at the one year commemoration of his death. The public was so moved by the paintings that Jeanne and the CEO of the Muscarelle decided a book should be written about her son and the paintings. The book, Losing Todd: A Mother’s Journey was published in 2013 by the Muscarelle Museum. It is a collection of the paintings, essays by Jeanne and ten other notable people. It is available on Amazon. The paintings are in Jeanne’s permanent collection and are exhibited at appropriate venues.

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