Kamille "Cupcake" McKinney painting on display in Birmingham as 1st anniversary of her killing looms

NEWS. SHERI: IT’S A HEARTBREAKING MONTH FOR FOLKS IN BIRMINGHAM. NEXT WEEK MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE THE ABDUCTION AND MURDER OF KAMILLE CUPCAKE MCKINNEY. EARLIER THIS YEAR, A LOCAL ARTIST CREATED A PAINTING IN HER HONOR. IT’S CURRENTLY DISPLAYED AT THE BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART. �� 13’S BREA DOUGLAS SPOKE WITH THE ARTIST. >> IT’S A PIECE OF ART BORN FROM PAIN. >> THE STORY STRUCK US HAR THE CITY ITSELF I THINK EVERYONE IS IN MOURNING. >> BIRMINGHAM NATIVE ERIN MITCHELL TURNED TO THE CANVAS TO EXPRESS HER GRIEF AND NAMED THE PAINTING "IMPERISHABLE STARS." AT THE CENTER OF IT IS WHAT SHE CALLS AN ANGEL. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY THERE ARE IMAGES OF CHILDREN AROUND IT WHO SHE SAYS THE ANGEL IS PROTECTING IN A BETTER PLACE. >> PEOPLE WE’VE LOST ALONG THE PATH TO VIOLENCE AND TAKEN TOO SOON AMONG US. >> THE PAINTING ENTERED THE MUSEUM RIGHT BEFORE COVID-19 SHUT IT DOWN SO SEEING IT DISPLAYED FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME HITS HER HARD. >> IT KIND OF TAKES ME BACK TO THE PLACE WHEN THAT INCIDENT HAPPENED AND HOW MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN SO IT’S REALLY A LOT TO DIGEST. >> AS WE APPROACH ONE YEAR SINCE KAMILLE’S DEATH, ERIN WANTS HER MOM TO SEE THE PAINTING AND WALK AWAY WITH THIS FEELING. >> I WAS HOPEFUL THAT SHE COULD COME AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT JUST SO SHE KNOWS THAT WE’RE GRIEVING WITH HER. I KNOW I GIVE HER ALL MY STRENGTH BECAUSE I CAN’T IMAGINE WHAT IT’S LIKE. >> ERIN SAYS IT TOOK HER ABOUT A MONTH TO FINISH THE PAINTING AND SHE SAYS KAMILLE’S MOTHER WAS HAPPY SHE DID IT. NO WORD IF SHE WILL SEE THE PAINTING IN PERSON

Next week will mark one year since 3-year-old Kamille "Cupcake" McKinney was abducted in Birmingham and killed. The search for Cupcake captured the hearts and minds of the entire city, and news of her brutal killing sent shockwaves across the country. Cupcake continues to be honored and remembered at the Birmingham Museum of Art through a powerful piece called "Imperishable Stars" by artist Erin Mitchell. Mitchell, a Birmingham native and graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College Chicago, said it took her a month to create the acrylic and fabric collage on a 5x5 canvas. "The story struck us hard," she said about Kamille's tragic death. "The city itself, I think everyone is in mourning." Mitchell hopes Cupcake's mother will have an opportunity to see it in person one day."I was hopeful that she could come and take a look at it just so she knows that we're grieving with her," she said. "I know I give her all my strength cause I can't imagine what's it like."The artwork went on display in June and will remain there until 2021.Birmingham Museum of Art Director Dr. Graham Boettcher described the painting as a "stunningly beautiful composition, with deep and layered meanings addressing memory, loss, and mourning."Watch the video above to learn more about Cupcake and "Imperishable Stars." Click here to visit Mitchell's website.��

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

Cupcake continues to be honored and remembered at the Birmingham Museum of Art through a powerful piece called "Imperishable Stars" by artist Erin Mitchell.

Mitchell, a Birmingham native and graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College Chicago, said it took her a month to create the acrylic and fabric collage on a 5x5 canvas.

"The story struck us hard," she said about Kamille's tragic death. "The city itself, I think everyone is in mourning."

Mitchell hopes Cupcake's mother will have an opportunity to see it in person one day.

"I was hopeful that she could come and take a look at it just so she knows that we're grieving with her," she said. "I know I give her all my strength cause I can't imagine what's it like."

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’Imperishable Stars�� honoring Kamille ’Cupcake’ McKinney at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

The artwork went on display in June and will remain there until 2021.

Birmingham Museum of Art Director Dr. Graham Boettcher described the painting as a "stunningly beautiful composition, with deep and layered meanings addressing memory, loss, and mourning."

Watch the video above to learn more about Cupcake and "Imperishable Stars."

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Kamille "Cupcake" McKinney painting on display in Birmingham as 1st anniversary of her killing looms

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