Articles

Reached By an Angel

Cover Story, Reach Out Columbia
September 2005

Last year, a British man was driving on the coast of Turkey when he saw a young girl with Down syndrome fall in the road. Seeing that she was upset, he stopped traffic and offered her a small, colorful angel painted by a young artist from South Carolina. He watched as her sad expression transformed into a smile.

In 1990, four-year-old Philip Powell, also with Down syndrome, was playing in his yard in Columbia when he stumbled on an embankment and rolled out of control toward the creek below. He landed upside down, his head lodged in the vines, inches from drowning. Hearing his cries, his father ran to him and lifted him out of the vines.

Thousands of miles separate these two children, but God is not bound by space. Although they’ve never met, God has used one to touch the other. The young Down syndrome boy who fell in South Carolina grew up to become the artist whose angel helped lift the Down syndrome girl that fell in Turkey.

Philip Powell was born May 29, 1986, along with his twin sister, Molly, who was born without Down syndrome. They joined their older brother and sister, Alexander and Anna, and as they grew, their love for the arts and concern for others became apparent. Anna has completed her Masters in Art Therapy. She is drawn to the homeless and works with disabled adults and emotionally disturbed children. Molly is pursuing a degree in Graphic Communications and Philip is busy painting, touching lives in Columbia and around the world. Together, the three have also been recovering from a tragedy that struck not only their family, but an entire community.

Reading, writing and resurrection

On February 12, 1995, the Powell’s oldest son, Alexander, committed suicide. His death sent a riveting shock through their lives, leaving them unable to recall any previous signs of trouble. Alexander, by anyone’s definition, was the least likely person to end his life. He was gifted on many levels, had many friends and loved to play classical guitar. Alice says, “When Alexander died, I was devastated; I was hardly there -- there in body only.”

Alice shares what happened the day after the funeral. “We went again to the grave and Philip’s sisters wanted to take flowers out of the arrangements, as keepsakes, but Philip was upset and yelled, ‘Stop!’ He didn’t understand why his brother was in the casket and when he got home, he had many questions.”

Alice needed someone to turn to and no one would be more soothing to Philip than their beloved neighbor, Miss Page, a former Heathwood Hall kindergarten teacher. She called her and said, ‘”Page, Philip needs you. Could he come over and spend some time with you?” Indeed, Philip went to see her, firing questions at her all day. Later, he returned home “flying through the house like a freed bird shouting, ‘Momma, Momma, Don’t worry! He is out of the box!’”

Love, strings attached

After Alexander’s death, Alice wondered what to do with the classical guitar he left behind. Inspired by the musicians at her church, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, she called Alexander’s guitar teacher and began taking lessons. As a tribute to her son’s love for music, Alice now plays guitar at Trinity’s contemporary services.

Philip loves his church. He has sung in the church choir and serves as an acolyte. “He carries the Gospel, a candle or a cross”, says Alice. “He considers this an act of worship and an honor. He passes each pew with a serious look and when he reaches us, he flashes a quick grin and continues on with his straight face.”

Agape to Houston: Houston, do you read me?

In May of 2003, close family friend, Becky McCutchen, developed a dangerous form of leukemia. Becky and her husband, English, are Alexander’s godparents. They stood by Beau and Alice after Alexander’s death and now, it was the Powell’s turn to reach out. During Becky’s chemotherapy, Alice and many devoted friends took turns spending the night in her room.

After the chemotherapy, Becky left for M. D. Anderson Clinic in Houston, Texas to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Thankfully, her brother’s bone marrow was a perfect match. She remained at the clinic from July until November and during that time, Becky needed almost constant care. Alice and a group of their friends took turns visiting and helping out. They stayed in a nearby apartment that English rented for himself and their daughter.

One day, Philip sat down to draw an angel, hoping it would turn out well enough to offer as a gift for Becky. Alice says, “He practiced drawing the angels, going through many sheets of paper while trying. Finally, he got one he liked. He brought it to me and I said, ‘Philip, why don’t you paint your angel?’ Using the drawing as a model, he painted an angel on canvas.” Soon, it was off to Houston, destined for a prominent place in Becky’s heart and on her wall at M. D. Anderson.

Becky could hardly believe Philip was able to part with the angel. It reminded her of the wonderful folk art she had seen in an art gallery in Asheville. Becky says, “I was completely amazed at Philip’s talent and that he thought of painting an angel for me. What a perfect subject for someone so very sick and close to death.”

Shortly afterward, Philip’s godmother, Beth Watkins, talked with Alice and Philip about his talent. When she offered to be his “agent”, Philip replied, “I’ll need a contract!” That was no problem, since Beth’s husband is an attorney. Soon, they were consulting a folk art collector about selling art. He said, “It’s not just the art – it’s the story.” Indeed, Philip had the story.

Wings of love

Trinity Cathedral’s church bazaar would be the perfect place to launch his artwork. After painting 34 angels, he and Molly set up a booth. The wind blew against the display but Philip and Molly sought ways to keep it anchored. Meanwhile, Beau and Alice were vacationing at the beach. As the wind also blew there, they strained to hear frequent updates from Philip and Molly: “We sold our first one!” “We’ve sold ten!” “We’ve sold many!” All 34 angels were sold before noon.

Philip began having art shows. Beth Watkins, who received Philip’s second original angel, hosted the first show. News of Philip’s talent quickly began to spread. The State newspaper covered his story and when close friend Beth McMaster hosted an art show for Philip, 125 angels were sold in 45 minutes. “The buyers included mothers of handicapped children, cancer survivors and many with loved ones that were sick in hospitals”, says Alice. On one occasion, the doorbell rang before the show was scheduled to begin. Two very polite boys from Cardinal Newman High School carefully selected an angel from the collection. Alice later found out that one of the boy’s mothers had just been diagnosed with cancer.

After all of the angels were gone, a man arrived only to learn that he was too late. He spotted two remaining cards on the display board and asked, “Could I just have one card? She’s not going to make it.” Alice had reserved two small paintings for a friend, but she offered one of them to the man.

Alice says that Philip is like a king when he paints. “He is so happy. He gets into it and never wants to stop. I’m like his assistant, getting his water. He wants to send his angels all over the world.”

And throughout the world they are! The British man, John Harrowsmith, a friend of Alice’s sister, Mary Ann, has left the angels in churches and monasteries in 23 countries – and counting! Philip’s angel is even in Vatican City. Two years ago, Molly and Anna went to Europe. They also took Philip’s small 4 x 6 paintings and handed them out in different countries. Molly, Anna, and Mr. Harrowsmith have sent postcards from each country and Philip joyfully tracks his angels with red pins and a map of the world.

Oprah, have we got an angel for you!

One of the most poignant stories of Philip and his work involves a young mentally and physically disabled boy named Joe. Many people were afraid to approach Joe, but Philip wasn’t. When Joe was in Intensive Care, Philip took him an angel, held his hand and patted him as he spoke in a sweet voice. Soon afterward, Joe died and was cremated. Philip wanted to find Joe, but there was no box. After the service, Philip asked to be alone with him for awhile. First he stood silently at Joe’s grave and then he had a long conversation with him.

Philip will soon graduate from his high school, A. C. Flora. He has many dreams yet to be fulfilled. One day, he’d like to meet Oprah and share his angels with the nation. He longs for the day when Aldersgate, a collection of homes planned throughout South Carolina for special needs adults, is built. Philip says, “I want my money to go to Aldersgate. I want to get a job and live there with my friend Alex and other guys. We’ll have a pool table and play music.” Philip longs for the day when he’ll live independently, bond with his peers and enjoy age-appropriate activities.

One day, Philip sat down to sketch an angel. But some would say he sat down to love.

Philip on Angels

“Angels hear you when you sing. They can sing in church. They sing Gloria. They take us to church to give thanks to the Lord that God is King…An angel stopped me from falling into the creek, head first. Angels watch me paint. I want my angels all over the world. I want to keep on painting angels forever. When you die, angels help you die. They see your face. They hold you up. I held Joe’s hand and said, ‘Joe, you do this’. I talked to him at his grave and told him how much I love him. I agree with angels. I agree with God.”

Anne Buck

For more information on Philip Powell, go to www.PhilipPowellArt.com
Or contact Beth Watkins at (803) 738-9292, BWatkins@sc.rr.com

For information or to make a contribution to Aldersgate, go to www.umcsc.org
You may also call or write:
Aldersgate Special Needs Ministry
4908 Colonial Dr. Suite 101, Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 786-9486 or (888) 678-6272