As many of you know my friend Brandon Haskins was murdered almost a year ago at the age of 22. The picture to the left is Brandon with my daughter Michelle at a church youth camp several years ago.
 Brandon was the person who sparked my passion for writing and the book I am now writing, because of Brandon, is almost complete. The company he was a partner of, Clay Bridges, is my publisher.  Brandon had this “way” with hundreds of people. He was an artist at heart but his artistic spirit was like an energy source that would bring others’ artistic spirit to life. He did the same thing for my wife Lori as she has become a very good water color painter, because of Brandon’s encouragement.
Brandon’s friends from Town and Country Fine Art Center @ 300 E. Stroop Rd, Dayton, have put together a scholarship fund through Sinclair Community College, where Brandon studied graphic design. http://www.townandcountryfineartcenter.com/
There is a reception at Town and Country Fine Art Center this Sunday, June 5, from 12 noon to 5pm. There will be paintings for sale in order to begin raising money for the scholarship fund. The paintings are from artist-friends of Brandon and the exhibit will run thru the month of June. The paintings were created with Brandon’s life being at the spirit/core of each piece. Lori has a beautiful painting she spent hours on that depicts Brandon’s vast network of “artsy” friends bound through the spirit of art.
Please take some time to open the link above and see how you can help keep Brandon’s spirit alive. The following is a piece I wrote about my buddy Brandon…Â
…a Spirit always aLive
Art is from the Spirit and it lives in all of us.Â
As humans, we have the ability to imagine, envision, and create things like no other. For those of us who choose to tap into this divine blessing; we are introduced to an entirely different way of thinking. We no longer see boundaries and limits; we see endless possibilities and even eternity.Â
Although art is expressed in various mediums and venues, it is as much a representation of the artist’s spirit as it is the interpretation of those receiving it.
An artist is real and shares what they see and feel and without motive, can change the way the world sees and feels. An artist knows the meaning of his or her work and that is all that matters. An artist has the ability to take another’s thinking, emotions and imagination into a room never entered before. An artist has the ability to tap into another’s spirit and stir unknown, latent, creative talent. Above all, an artist touches people of different gender, race, interests and beliefs and in-turn binds their spirits together simply due to the artist’s willingness to share their own spirit of art.
Brandon Haskins was an artist and not just any artist, but a Divine Artist. The art from his spirit is one that stirred and accelerated others to see what he could see. The art from his spirit served as a thread that bound many.
…and whatever art-form one of us from the “many†produces, it will include Brandon’s spirit, a spirit always alive.
P.E.A.C.E.
…thank you Jay….I can’t wait to see Lori’s painting….
Well said, Jay. Well said and/or written as Brandon would have expected. You have a gift, complete it and share it.
-G
Hi Jay,
I will see to it that your words about Brandon are read at the opening Sunday. Thank you for your own seeing, hearing and feeling. Your presence in the world touches people.
r.