A Life Cut Short Portrait of Amir Alwyn by Paula Mandel

From Khalid Gresham, Almir’s brother: Almir was 31 when he passed away. However Almir didn't have a chance to have any children of his own due to his untimely death.

He enjoyed spending time with his family. Almir put his family above any and everything.

Almir went to school to specialize in the H-VAC field.
He also was in love with automobiles he always wanted the latest and fastest car that Dodge would manufacture.

Traveling was one thing that helped Almir see that America is an extremely big place. He loved Miami and the beautiful weather along with the beach.

Almir will never be forgotten, although his physical presence is no longer with us... his spirit lives with us each and everyday…

We love and miss you Mir-Mir.

From the artist Paula Mandel: One of my after-school students had a cousin who was murdered during this past school year. My student asked me if I would do a portrait of her cousin to be displayed at his funeral. Circumstances intervened and I was not able to create a piece for her. When the Souls Shot project evolved, I immediately thought of my student’s loss. I asked her and her family for their permission to portray him for the exhibition with the hope that it could bring some comfort to them.

 Almir Gresham’s brother Khalid wrote some thoughts about his brother so that I could get to know the kind of person he was.

From the curator: This stained glass portrait is another art work that really needs to be seen in person to appreciate its textures and details. Paula and Joan Schrager, another of our artists, have a wonderful after-school program, The Stained Glass Project, that reaches many young people who live in neighborhoods where gun violence is prevalent. Art is truly an important outlet for everyone, regardless of whether or not one goes on to become a working artist.

 A Life Cut Short Portrait of Almir Alwyn by Paula Mandel glass and enamels 14” x 14” 2017