I saw this building art piece (see below) about four years ago. It is on the corner of Sargent and McGee Avenues in the West End neighbourhood in Winnipeg. It lives near Jared’s house. It is large. It is three stories high.
” Zookhy ” was well known in the area. He was mentally delayed, and was made fun of by some kids. But most people loved him. He rode his bike everywhere. He could fix anything, and he would do it for anybody. He gave out candy and other treats to children. He died in 2002, and this tribute to him was painted for the West End community in 2003. ” Zookhy ” or Walter Zielke and Reusch is remembered well.
It is sad that this memorial happened after he died. It would have been nice for him to have seen it. Some people are doing living memorial services, so we can say nice things about the person while they are living. After all, we are all going to die.
If you had a living memorial service, who would select to talk about you and your life, and your faith ? Friends, family, the pastor or neighbours ? On the wall, Zookhy is holding a poem he wrote. He wrote much poetry, and would recite to anyone who would listen. The one he is holding is his most famous one. If an artist, like Josslyn Hagen, would paint a picture of your life on a wall, what would you want her to paint ? Who are you, in your own mind, and the minds of others ?
“Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. ” Romans 16:11-13