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| Embrace Hope, Give Love a Chance |
Artist Statement: This painting moved into existence by the death of a beloved young woman, which devastated my family. A statement, an image, was needed before life could be resumed once again in an attempt to come to terms with the loss of this beautiful young soul. The black cross in back of Mary refers to wings, but also to papel picado – those fragile tissue paper cut outs hung at Mexican weddings. Here the beloved is lovingly held into eternity within the Blessed Mother’s arms, visualized as Mary’s child, Jesus – who sleeps peacefully, safely. Collection of the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, Burlington, Vermont Bio: Janet McKenzie came to national prominence with her controversial dark interpretation of Christ, Jesus of the People. Winner of the National Catholic Reporter's "Jesus 2000" global competition the painting was revealed on The Today Show receiving a worldwide response. Orbis Books published Holiness and the Feminine Spirit: The Art of Janet McKenzie, which won the 2010 First Place Award for Spirituality from the Catholic Press Association, and The Way of the Cross: The Path to New Life, a collaboration with Sister Joan Chittister, OSB. |
