Student’s life remembered by community
Campbell, a December 2005 Murray State graduate, was snorkeling in Florida when she was fatally attacked by an alligator in early May.
An art major, Campbell devoted much of her time to drawing, printmaking and photography. Dawn Yankeelov, Campbell’s mother, said art was a constant presence in her daughter’s life. “When I was a reporter in Florida, I used to take her to meetings I would cover and she would take a box of crayons and color pictures for people at the meetings,” Yankeelov said.
Campbell’s mother said she favored “touchy feely” art to computer-based creations.
Yankeelov said she has over 150 pieces of Campbell’s art and hopes to one day start a gallery in Chicago.
“One of my goals is to have a gallery and have Murray students use it as a launching pad,” Yankeelov said.
Nicole Hand, associate professor of art, knew Campbell for about four years and remembers her as full of energy. Hand said in her work, Campbell often used references to food, such as Cupcakes for Katrina, the last art show she participated in at Murray State.
“Conceptually, her work dealt with things that were beautiful yet repulsive, the ideas of excess and an abundance,” Hand said.
A scholarship was established in Campbell’s name for Murray State art students. Eventually, Campbell’s mother hopes it will become an endowment.
Along with art, Campbell also loved nature and travel. She reveled in her recent trip to Europe, especially seeing the “other Paris,” a contrast from her home in Tennessee.
Claudia Dishon, Campbell’s friend and roommate, said Campbell saw life as an opportunity and approached everything with energy.
“She approached all aspects of life with the same perspective,” Dishon said. “She was an artist and an art major but it didn’t just stop there with making art. She approached decorating her house the same way … She cooked with the same intensity and when it came to cleaning the bathroom or vacuuming, it was always with this artist’s perspective. It never stopped for her. She always managed to see and recreate beauty in all aspects of her life.”
Dishon said the two were known to taste unique foods, like Campbell’s homemade seaweed soup. There were also times when Campbell would put off homework to write letters to long-distance friends or make scones.
“The best she articulated herself and her personality is most evident through the things that she did through her artwork, through her blog,” Dishon said.
“I think that best represents who she was because she was so unlike anyone else. It makes it almost impossible to describe accurately.”
Dawn Yankeelov said Campbell’s ashes are scattered in Bernheim Forest in Bullitt county, a place she viewed as a sanctuary. Birdhouses and a bench are in the area and this fall, plans to build a zen garden with a contemplative rock are in the works.
