SALYERSVILLE – A local artist seeking healing through art and scripture combined the two for an exhibit, now on display at the Magoffin County Public Library.
Debbie Lemaster, a retired art teacher from both Johnson County and Magoffin County schools, lost her son 13 years ago this June and said she wanted to do something to honor his memory, while also crediting God.
“I wanted to do something to honor him while giving credit to my Lord and Savior; without who I would not be here,” Lemaster said.
She said Henrietta Fletcher inspired her to paint eggs, 13 5-inch Styrofoam eggs in total, focusing on the Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’ life before the crucifixion.
“God sure blessed me while creating these!” Lemaster said. “To Him be the glory!”
The 13 eggs – one for each year she has lived without her son – features Biblically-inspired scenes and verses in an exhibit titled “Love, Death, and Life After.”
Lemaster included the following inscription with her pieces:
Thirteen years can feel like a single breath or an entire eternity. Following the loss of my son, I found a renewed interest in art—a way to navigate the depths of grief and the heights of devotion. This Easter project, born from a desire to honor his memory and my children’s love for my work, explores the intersection of earthly loss and divine sacrifice.
Rooted in the rugged beauty of my East Kentucky home, I turned to the Holy Week accounts in the four Gospels for guidance. Through prayer and reflection, I allowed the themes of love, regret, and ultimate redemption to take shape. These acrylic works on Styrofoam eggs are the result of those visions – a humble testament to the fact that while I am nothing without Him, His sacrifice provides the light by which I now paint.
In these thirteen years since my son’s passing, art has become my way of listening to God. Inspired by the never-ceasing beauty of these mountains and the profound sacrifice of the Cross, this series emerged from a deep immersion in the Gospel story. These painted eggs represent a journey through love and grief—a visual testimony to the Son who died for us all, and the son I carry in my heart. Without Him, I am nothing; through Him, these visions are given life.
Be sure to check out Lemaster’s exhibit “Love, Death, and Life After” while it is still available for viewing at the Magoffin County Public Library.
