at night so I could develop my portfolio. It was through these extra classes that I was awarded a scholarship to the Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts in Philadelphia.
At that time when I first knew Michael I was headed down a bad path. I had a strange hair cut and hung out in dark clubs. He taught me that rather than looking severe that I could spend that energy on focusing on the gifts God has given me through my art.
Michael valued all religions, and people. He was one of the first people that really valued me as a person. He gave me a chance when all other friends at F.I.T. turned away because of a foolish thing I said, and a confused belief system. Through that life changing experience, I learned to start to value myself and I also learned to value others as well as all religions. This is why the loss is so hard for me and painful.
I create artwork for the Homeless veteran’s in his memory and also because I come from a family with three Navy Veterans. This is my way of serving those men and women who served us. |