Chip Portrait of Kenyon Lakei Alford, Jr. by Laura Madeleine

From Chip’s grandmother, his Meemee, Sonya Dixon:

Kenyon Chip Allford was the oldest of five, my first grandson. Chip was a little charmer from a young age he was a little man who knew just what to say to put a smile on anyone’s face, he would sing and dance and he loved his little brothers he would call them his sons and then he became a father of two beautiful little girls Maliah and Khaliya whom he adored; Chip loved  cooking out he would throw together a last minute popup in a heart beat with the help of his Meemee (me).

Words can not Express how much he has been missed. I love you my Chipmunk until we meet again my God forgive your Sins and grant you peace in paradise all my love your Meemee

From the artist Laura Madeleine: I met Chip. I met Chip one day as I was sitting with his grandmother, Sonya, looking at photos of his brother Zakiyy, ZiyZiy Man, who had been shot and killed. I made a portrait of him for the second edition of this project. I was struck by how somber Chip seemed – so full of anger and bitterness – missing his brother.

Not many months after that meeting Chip was shot and killed as well - another completely senseless loss. As I sat with Sonya yet again and met Chip’s daughters, their mother, and his best friend, I was amazed that the picture they painted of this brooding man I had met was of a fun loving, giving person who delighted his daughters, was a draw to children and the elderly who loved him, a great cook, and a song writer. The violence that surrounds his family and community, that took his beloved brother, was reflected in the Chip I met that afternoon. This epidemic not only takes victims, it rips through the fabric of families.

In Chip’s portrait I tried to illustrate his different sides. When I asked his friend and Sonya about his song lyrics, so I could include them in the portrait, they repeatedly said they were too “hard”. They were his outlet. I created indecipherable lyrics for the painting. I also used a drawing from one of his daughters of her with her father. There is also a stylized bird that symbolizes family healing.

From the curator (and artist): I have since learned the name of the symbolic bird is Sankofa. It is an ancient symbol that promotes positive movement by taking from the past and bringing forward what will be beneficial. I have a love of symbols and use them in all my work, usually transforming them into my own designs. I had not heard of the Sankofa but I can say that Sonya is a model of moving forward with positive intentions to keep her family in her heart and not let the loss of her grandsons be in vain. She speaks eloquently about our country’s disproportionate attention to other types of deaths and injuries while ignoring the gun violence epidemic. Even while we are all sheltering in place, those of us lucky enough not to have to go out to an essential job, I wonder about the efforts made to combat this other epidemic which will, unfortunately, not go away and has no hope of a vaccine. I am not good speaking to the statistics of the matter but this project exists to move people to seek out the facts and take action.

My hope is that viewers of my portrait of Chip will see his many sides and that the colors and details present his vibrant spirit. The childlike drawing was copied from a drawing his daughter made for me of herself and her dad. She loved his cooking (and just about everything else about him!) The chipmunk is because Kenyon was told he looked like one when he was tiny; hence the nickname Chip.

Chip Portrait of Kenyon Lakei Allford by  Laura Madeleine batik painting on silk  20” x 34””2019