Something Beautiful

Item

A journal spread with images and handwritten notes reflecting on a murder anniversary and a snowflake painting.

Title: Something Beautiful
Alternative Title: Something Beautiful
Creator: Karen Blessen
Date: 2020
Description: The image showcases a scrapbook-style journal open to a two-page spread. The left page features a printed image of a whimsical house under a snowflake, accompanied by handwritten text stating it was handed over by someone named Ray Mel Cornelius at Reinhardt Elem. Below, there's a cover from "Texas Living" magazine displaying an image of a woman's face intertwined with dark branches and bold text reading "ONE BULLET." Handwritten in the bottom left corner, it mentions a "20-year anniversary of David McNulty's murder." The right page contains more handwritten notes reflecting on the anniversary of a murder and accompanied by musings about memories, grieving, and the symbolism of the painting as a gift. A tab labeled "AGING" extends from the top of the page.
Dates Completed: August 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020
Keywords: Beauty; Thoughts on beauty; Something Beautiful; Ray-Mel Cornelius; Snowflake painting; David McNulty; Murder; Aging; Kelly’s mother; Sparky the cat; Love; Invisible communication; Love knows no distance; Beautiful collage; Quilt collage; Personal nature; Initiative; Choice; Transience; Once in forever; Marriage; Eye contact; Tender mercies; Cat art; Janelle; Lea; TikTok; Forgiveness; Commitment; COMMITMENT Lesson; 29 Pieces; Other shore; UNL suicide project; Drawing; Suicide sketches; Final art; Biden election; Kamala Harris; Glitter metaphor; Photos; Sparky
Transcription: Left Page:

AUGUST 19, 2020
Ray Mel Cornelius handed me the Snowflake painting. @Reinhardt Elem.
20 year anniversary of David McNulty's murder.
"Texas Living" Magazine Cover:

ONE BULLET
He's a ghost in the garden outside the waxy myrtle next to Joe Street.
Right Page:
20th anniversary of the murder in our front yard. I wrote about it in a story for the DMN.
That day, the memories of the voices of the grieving family members and friends of the victim were with me.
The slaughter of Mother Nature next door.
So the gift of the painting, the beauty, the gesture of entrusting such beauty to me went deep.
Rights: To inquire about usage, please contact Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These images are for educational use only. Not all images are available for publication.
Is Part Of: Something Beautiful
Relation: Image Gallery