acrylic on linen canvas,
35" x 47",
91cm. x 120cm.
"Metamorphosis of Prayer" originated from a group of elderly Italian women
praying together. If you look closely at their hands you will notice they are
holding rosary beads. This is a prayer of ancient tradition adopted by early Christians as a form of meditation on the life of Christ. The rosary was a favorite prayer of illiterate peasants; used as a substitute for the 150 Psalms of the Jewish Bible. Today,it is still prayed as a chain which links Catholics to their historical roots and their final home: heaven.
Kennedy painted boxes around the women's heads to express their focus and concentration: attempting to shut off all worldly distractions. The semi-transparency of the clothing symbolizes nakedness before God; the One who alone can discern the thoughts of hearts.
Finally, with the title "Metamorphosis of Prayer" the artist acknowledges the changes people experience who stop long enough to nourish their spiritual lives with prayer allowing God to transform them into His image.
This is 100% handpainted by Kennedy with the finest artist quality acrylics. Linen canvas was carefully selected by the artist for durability and the highest conservation values.