Oregon Coast Council for the Arts presents “Sweet Grief: Paintings & Poems on Love and Loss” a collaboration of artist Senitila McKinley of Waldport and writer Drew Myron of Yachats, when Senitila’s husband died.
The 12 paintings paired with 12 poems offer a powerful range of darkness and light, from the heavy weight of loss to the bright glow of gratitude. Myron has written poetry to accompany the paintings by McKinley.
In response to Senitila McKinley’s painting, “How to Breathe,” Myron writes, “In my lungs, the tight narrow space where breath is taken and given away I’m trying to learn something…” And Grief is beautiful, we agreed, then laughed, a painting by Senitila McKinley evokes these words from Drew Myron, “I can’t recall the sound of your voice. Still, I bring flowers and meet the sky, ask it to hold me, too.”
Senitila McKinley, of Waldport, is founder and director of Seashore Family Literacy, a nonprofit serving low-income and homeless youth and families. McKinley works for Lincoln County School District as an advocate for homeless students, and is an ordained deacon, serving at St Luke’s in Waldport and St. Stephen’s in Newport.
Drew Myron, of Yachats, heads a marketing communications company, and as a journalist has covered news, arts, entertainment and travel for AOL’s City Guide, Northwest Best Places and other publications. She is a writing instructor at Seashore Family Literacy, and the creator and host of “Off the Page,” an annual event featuring Oregon writers.