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Team Hoyt Honored in Painting by Dustin Neece

By Michelle Murdock, Freelance Writer

On Thursday, April 12, Hopkinton artist Dustin Neece will unveil the second painting in his “Honoring the Spirit” series with a portrait of Dick and Rick Hoyt, who will run their 30th Boston Marathon this year. The unveiling will take place as part of the Ready, Set, Go event to be held at Microsoft's New England Research and Development Center in Cambridge.

The painting was commissioned by Easter Seals Massachusetts, an organization that has, according to President and CEO Kirk Joslin, interacted with the Hoyts for many years. Joslin met Rick Hoyt when he first came to one of the Easter Seals summer camps, 35 years ago.

"It was really his first time to be away from home; first time to be independent from his family," said Joslin, "and he just had the greatest time."

Easter Seals has also supported the Hoyts' athletic events, particularly their participation in the Boston Marathon. Joslin says that every year Easter Seals has an event to give the Hoyts a send off on their Boston Marathon run.

"We started this for their 25th anniversary," said Joslin. "When their 30th anniversary rolled around, we tried to think what we could do that was really special to honor the Hoyts."

Joslin was directed to Hopkinton artist Dustin Neece, and his painting, "Honoring the Spirit", that honored seven of Hopkinton's Iwo Jima veterans.

"I was just blown away by that painting," said Joslin. "I just couldn't believe that a young artist could capture Iwo Jima, and all that that means, and I had to meet him."

And after meeting Neece, Joslin decided that he was the one he wanted to paint the Hoyts.

“We talked about the Hoyts, what their story means to people with disabilities, what it means to fathers and sons, and families," said Joslin. "There was no question in my mind that he was someone who could capture that in a painting, and that his product would be something that would be worthy of this incredible accomplishment."

The next step in the process was getting Dick and Rick to agree to sit for the painting.

Joslin started by sharing the story of the Iwo Jima painting; not just showing them the painting, but also telling them about the process that Neece went through to complete the painting.

"Dick was very moved," said Joslin.

Neece began painting in December of 2011, travelling to Rick’s apartment for several sessions where most of the painting was completed. According to Neece, getting to know the Hoyts played a large role in the outcome of the painting.

“It's not really enough to paint from a photograph," said Neece. "There are subtleties that you can only get working with them in person.”

For Neece, the painting is the second in his Honoring the Spirit series. His first painting honored the courage and perserverance of seven Hopkinton Iwo Jima veterans. His painting of Dick and Rick Hoyt honors the spirit of the inseparable bond between father and son.

“It's really about these moving stories," said Neece, "that capture the essence of somebody; their experience, or who they are as individuals, and each one of them has that element, that really strong emotion, something that's very touching, very moving, and something that people can really relate to on their own level."

When the painting is finally unveiled, Neece hopes that that emotion comes through.

“I hope that the painting captures the emotion and power of their inspiration, because when you see them and hear their story, you cry.”

In addition to honoring the Hoyts and commemorating their 30th Boston Marathon, the painting will also help to raise money for Easter Seals and the Hoyt Foundation. Sales of limited edition lithographs will be available for purchase thanks to the generosity of three Easter Seal volunteers; Doug Chamberlain of Appleton Partners, Inc., Regina Pisa of Goodwin Proctor LLP, and Ladd Lavallee of Laddawn, Inc.

When we interviewed him, Neece was putting the finishing touches on the painting, and is also looking forward to its completion and unveiling, comparing his finish to the finish line in a marathon.

I’m absolutely looking forward to the unveiling," said Neece. "What makes a painting, is that last ten percent. It's just a like a marathoner running a marathon. They pace themselves throughout the process, but that last mile where they are going to the finish, that's where you get to see the magic. It's the same for me with a painting. When you get to the end, it comes to life."

Ready, Set, Go
Microsoft New England Research and Development Center
Date: Thursday, April 12, 2012
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Address: One Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02142

If you'd like to attend this event, you can purchase tickets Online Here.

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