Mourning Buttons

Mourning buttons with painted eyes became popular in the Victorian era as a way to symbolize remembering the deceased, acknowledge grief & honor the departed.  These drawings were studies for a series of enlarged, enameled wall pieces that would honor those who died while attempting to immigrate to America..

Mounted a few inches off the wall, the cut metal edges (in the style of the antique buttons) would cast shadows, adding dimension both visually  & metaphorically.