Brother Be Gone
This work comes from a great loss that I suffered, endured and continue to endure of my closest friend, Dave Allan, who I have known for more than 30 years. Dave was diagnosed with stage 4 Melanoma cancer 2 1/2 years ago and died a few months later at the age of 51. This work began shortly after his death as I tried to walk through grief and devastation. As time went on the work moved from this specific loss to include all experiences with loss. The loss of a child leaving home; of youth; of what could have been; of choosing one thing over another; of letting go, and so on.
I do not see loss as negative, but rather as a powerful experience that is necessary for growth. It often is a balance in life and is something to share and walk through, not to be held onto to hold us down. I have been through a lot of loss in my life and much good has come of it. Was the good that came out of Dave's death worth the loss, was it balanced out – not in any way, but the 30 years of having such a beautiful and close relationship does and the loss of it makes it very clear of how important he is to me, and I will always have that with me and he will forever be with me in my memories.
This work is dedicated to Dave and to all of us who have lost.
