The Artist Lives Launches Website Featuring Unrecognized Deceased Artists
The site was created by New York writer/producer Andrea Magder after losing her son in 2017 and later discovering diaries filled with short stories, poetry and the beginnings of a novel. The realization that her son’s dream of one day becoming a published author was cut short by his untimely death was difficult to reconcile. She was not alone. While attending a bereavement group, Magder discovered that many people had inherited paintings, music, and literary works from family members, and they had little idea what to do with them. Magder recalls a man telling the group that his son had composed over 18 symphonies. He kept saying that no one would ever hear his son’s music. You can’t throw 18 symphonies in a box and forget about them, but more often than not that seems to be the case. Creative work tends to be put away and eventually forgotten over time.
While many families hope to get their loved ones known, others find it therapeutic. A woman who had submitted her mother’s work explained, “At first I thought, who cares to see my mother’s hand-painted ceramic vase, but I do, and that’s it. is what matters most.”
There has been a resounding positive response to the site. People are thrilled to finally have a place where they can share their loved one’s work. Although there is always a chance that some artists will find success posthumously, preserving their work is the top priority for families. It ensures the legacy of the artist, and that alone brings great comfort during his bereavement.
