A Farewell to Aileen – But Not Goodbye to the Mission

Today, I said goodbye to my dear friend and fellow artist, Aileen Brandt-Merling. For the past several days, Aileen has not only shared my studio, but she has shared in the creative heartbeat of the Miss Mary Piano Project. Together, we sanded, painted, laughed, dreamed, and created.

Though she heads back to her own studio in South Carolina, her spirit will remain woven into this piece forever. What a gift it is to collaborate with another artist—to co-create something that goes beyond us and reaches into the hearts of others.

Aileen, your generous heart and belief in this mission allowed me to continue this community-based project. Thanks to the GoFundMe page she set up, our support has grown—giving me the tools and encouragement I need to keep painting, keep connecting, and keep building bridges through art.

The page will remain open for a few more weeks. Every donation brings us closer not only to completing Miss Mary in time for her June 13th grand reveal at the Sunshine Brooks Theatre—but also to launching the next project, which will involve high school students and a tribute to powerful women in history.

This isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of something bigger. Creativity sparks connection. Connection creates hope. And hope lights the way.

🎥 Watch the short video of Aileen’s goodbye and celebrate this creative collaboration with us.

👉 Donate here: https://gofund.me/949eaca3

With deep gratitude,

– B.J. Lane