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Exhibition honors slain young artist

Notes written by Brandon Haskins, who was shot and killed by his stepfather in 2010, incorporated into work of artists.

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By Pamela Dillon, Contributing Writer 3:55 PM Saturday, June 4, 2011

Brandon Haskins was known as a “lover of culture, admirer of ideas.” But the friendly graphic artist and churchgoer had a short life. In July of last year, he was shot and killed by his stepfather.

“On a seemingly ordinary day, a creatively gifted young man lost his life. And the world became less vibrant in that moment,” artist Rosie Huart said. “No one is prepared for such a tragedy. He left hundreds of family and friends who mourn and love him.”

Both Huart and Karen Benedetti became close friends of Haskins. Trish McKinney knew Haskins because they were both members of Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City. She had introduced him to Huart, and she thought of him when the pair needed a new tutor for marketing their artwork on their Mac computers.

“Karen and I would tease him about being such a whippersnapper. We would gloat because we got to tease him about this word since he had never heard of it before,” Huart said. “Karen and I were five decades older than him, but he seemed to relish the times he had with us.”

So much so, that recently they found out that Haskins had written “MEETING WITH ROSIE AND KAREN!” in all caps in a note. McKinney used that note in a collage that incorporates his notes with her artwork.

“It was decided that since our names were all in caps and with an exclamation point, we were pretty important to him,” Huart said. “Within days of his death, I knew that we would have an exhibition to honor this incredible young man.”

There are 16 works in this show by Huart, Benedetti, McKinney and Lori Meyer, including a moving poem by Haskins’ 13-year-old sister, Sara, written on the anniversary of his birthday. Another McKinney work shows Haskins’ smiling face surrounded by soft, falling leaves. One of Benedetti’s works is a collage with an inscribed memorial, “Live, Life, Love.” One of several Huart pieces includes a dark blue, green and gold abstract with a bright white dove flying upward.

Visitors to the exhibition are invited to write their thoughts about Haskins on watercolor paper. The three artists each bought a tree, and the papers will be tied to these and given to his mother, Kimberly Bedinger. In addition, there is a permanent endowment at Sinclair Community College where Haskins studied graphic design.

“We have three years to earn $20,000. We can only do this with your support,” Huart said. “We thank you in advance. Preserve Brandon’s legacy of creative vision and keep his compassion for others alive.”

Contact contributing arts writer Pamela Dillon at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.

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