Sweet Grief: Paintings & Poems on Love and Loss
by Senitila McKinley and Drew Myron

When her husband of 33 years died from cancer, Senitila turned pragmatic: “Death is not a crisis,” she told her friend Drew. “It’s a beautiful part of life.”

In that spirit, Senitila and Drew explored love and loss through art — creating a collaboration of 12 paintings paired with 12 poems. Their colorful yet contemplative collaboration turned into a powerful exhibition traveling throughout Oregon for more than two years, showing at Windermere Triad Gallery in Seal Rock, Visual Arts Center in Newport, and Benton County Museum in Philomath.

“Grief is a beautiful thing,” says Senitila, “not something to be afraid of, but to enjoy because it is still a gift. We think that only mystical people have a meaningful understanding of death. But it’s not true. To look at death and grief as a gift is not reserved for those who have a defined spiritual journey, but for everyone that has known love.”

Proceeds of this book benefit Seashore Family Literacy
2012, softcover, 26 pages
$10