Sentimental Barnyard Friends

Lockerbie Inspired Sheep

20x24, collage on panel

Back in October I went up to Syracuse University for their annual Remembrance Week honoring the 35 Syracuse University students killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. I was an SU student in London that semester, however I went to Germany for Christmas rather than return on December 21, 1988.

At Syracuse I met Lawrence Mason Jr. and Melissa Chessher, who published a beautiful book of photography highlighting  Lockerbie today, 20 years after Pan Am flight 103 came crashing down on this small village, killing 11 people on the ground and all 259 passengers on the plane.

I found a great YouTube video where you can listen to Lawrence "Doc" Mason Jr., townspeople, and SU students talk about the people and town of Lockerbie, if you have a minute, take a look.

I asked "Doc" Mason if he'd mind that I did a Paper Painting after his book's cover photo of the sheep, and he said he'd be flattered. He inscribed my copy of the book: "We at Syracuse University, never forget the victims of Pan Am flight 103."

I lost many friends and fellow students in the tragedy, so I too was honored to make a collage of the Lockerbie sheep. If you would like to purchase this beautiful photography book from Syracuse University Press, you can buy it online –– the authors are donating all profits to the Remembrance Scholars, each year 35 kids get a scholarship at SU, each in the name of one of the students who died on the flight, a worthy cause, a beautiful book, a great combination.