04 Aug A custom Fire feature for a memorial garden

Alex Townsend was a passionate artist and musician studying graphic design at the Savannah College of Art and Design when he tragically passed away at the age of 21. As a remembrance, the family commissioned me to create a firebowl incorporating Alex’s signature tag. The tag is cut into three sides of the bowl, which sits as the centerpiece of a round stone patio in a memorial garden. One hopes that the firebowl can be a gathering place for friends and family to remember Alex while his tag is lit up by the fire within.

This piece had a lot of meaning for me because it’s such an honor to create a memorial for another artist.

His family has found other ways to honor Alex’s life and keep his memory alive. Tom and Jeanne Townsend decided to honor their son by continuing his legacy of music, art, and encouragement to others. They created the Alex Townsend Memorial Foundation and the A-Town Get Down series of art and music events in Savannah, Georgia in an effort to celebrate his memory in a way that he himself would enjoy. In December of 2012, they founded Pianos for People to deliver free, quality pianos to people who could not afford one on their own. At the time of this writing, Pianos for people had “sourced, serviced, and delivered over 140 pianos to people and community organizations all over the St. Louis metropolitan area” and expanded to offer a free piano school to over 80 regular students! That is truly a legacy to be proud of. As an aspiring pianist myself, the list of benefits their about page lists all ring true… as they state, “A piano is more than a piano.”

Here is a brief video of how the tag art looks when the memorial fire feature is lit:

Here are links to a few articles about Alex Townsend:
For Alex: With a music festival, family and friends remember a young man of infinite promise
A get-down for Alex: Arts and music festival to honor memory of SCAD student
Second Annual A-Town Get Down honors late SCAD student’s legacy Feb. 25