On the unforgettable morning of December 14th 2015, over seven hundred energetic elementary schoolers steadily paraded into Sandy Hook Elementary School, ignorant to the disturbing events soon to rob them of their innocence. After killing his mother, Adam Lanza made his way to the school and swiftly began to ignite chaos. Before law enforcement could discharge their own weapons, Adam Lanza took his own life; but, only after taking the lives of twenty children and six adults. The painting above, created by the independent Sally Meding, was crafted in memorial of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Its simplistic design carries intricate meaning and by looking at the painting’s combination of color and subject, we can see that the occurrence of such a tragic heartbreak is significant because of its ability to kindle needed debate over gun control laws and security within schools. 

As the painting holds minimal intense change in color, and instead includes various gradual changes in hues, the importance of each of its few colors is amplified. To begin, perhaps the most noticeable of the colors are the monochromatic blue that fills the painting’s negative space. The beginning of the subject’s path is permeated by shades of blue and white as this symbolizes the purity of the subject before the disturbing happenings of that morning. At large, children have been established as the fundamental representation for innocence within humanity; in which further clarifies their white and light blue beginnings. Though, steadily, the white and baby blue hues transition to darker blues and eventually black. The approach towards the dimmer blues could foster the ideal of the time leading up of the tragic incident diminishing gradually.

However, outside of the Sandy Hook events, the progressive transition to the darker values could symbolize the continual loss of innocence in humans as they are, little by little, exposed to both the horrors and truths of life. Moreover, as a color in general, blue commands a variety of interpretations ranging from sadness and youth, to wisdom and depression. Meding is particular in taking advantage of such a notion as she is knowledgeable about the truth of blue encompassing all of the moods subsequent to such a tragedy. Furthermore, the yellow tint surrounding the subject is purposeful and could be viewed as significant. Yellow is a color of happiness, light, and optimism; and in context of tragedy, the yellow glow of the subject could demonstrate the positivity that continually remains despite being led down a gloomy and uncertain path. Perhaps there is a small glimpse of cheerfulness that children never lose, and in turn, carry into adulthood. Pink is a color of caring, soft, and tenderness and the subject itself being clothed in a light pink dress seems to be less than coincidence. Full of youth, the subject is travel through or towards the terrors of life; yet through it all, the subject will retain their gentle and kind nature, as children do. However, the black outline of the subject contrasts with this concept. Black is color that often symbolizes mourning, darkness, and fear. Therefore, in the same way that children carries a glint of happiness with them throughout their lifetimes, they also remain in an ongoing state of dread brought on by the ambiguity of the what lies ahead. Fear lies in uncertainty, a concept instilled in humanity since its establishment. In addition, a subtle yet eye catching single red line runs almost halfway down the length of the painting. This line could have several explanations though its first symbolic interpretation could be that it is symbolic of the bloodshed within the tragic event. Twenty innocent children had their lives taken along with six adults fighting for the preservation of their youthful innocence. The color red is highly contrasted against the dark blue of the negative space, in which further highlights Meding’s desire to make such a statement known. 

The subject is walking away and therefore we are not able to see their face, however it could be deduced that the subject is a young girl due to her lengthy hair, short stature, and femininely pink dress. The conception of a girl subject could as well be another element of importance in the construction of this painting. Generally, girls could be seen as more delicate and elegant than their male counterparts. Therefore, this ideal emphasizes the notion of the transformative journey that children take in their spans towards adulthood. The subject is off-centered within the painting which makes her journey towards the darkness seems evermore off in the distance. Though, the painting does include a smaller and therefore second in regard subject, a candle at the feet of the girl. Generally, a candle can represent tranquility and serenity. Though this candle can also represent vigil with its display of wakefulness in which can also display religious ties to certain elements and interpretations of the piece. Therefore, the presence of the candle could represent God in such a scenario and how He provides light throughout all dark paths of uncertainty.

The tragic events of Sandy Hook sparked countless emotions, and the painting’s inclusion of color and subject, Meding strove to capture all of those emotions in her work. From the blues to the yellows and the reds, Meding was enabled portray the significance of such an event to the beliefs of a nation. Sandy Hook reignited the country’s debate not only on gun control laws, but on the conservation of child innocence. As children continue to represent the innocence of mankind, humanity will continue to make strides towards maintaining it presence.
