Through her creation of beaded tapestries, Kenney showcases military veterans and others who served during World War II; in particular, TCU alumnus and posthumous Medal of Honor recipient Major Horace Carswell Jr. '39.
November 28, 2023
By Winter Harris
Maureen Kenney uses innovation and her artistry to honor those who served in the military through her creations of unique beaded tapestries. Kenney ‘85 has woven more than 30 tapestries as part of a collection titled Thankful Generations. Her exhibit of work is currently on display at the Doss Heritage and Culture Center in Weatherford.
After her time as an undergraduate here at TCU, Kenney worked in the healthcare, defense, education, and retail industries. Returning to TCU in 2018, Kenney is now the Associate Director of Neeley’s Professional Development Center and a Neeley management adjunct instructor.
“Getting closer to my 50th birthday, I decided to do something I had never seen before. Something that was bigger than me and would matter. Something that would express my gratitude,”said Kenney, who grew up in a military family. This marked the beginning of Thankful Generations.
The Thankful Generations project is a combination of Kenney’s interest in World War II and beading. Her mother is from Okinawa, whose home country played an important role in the war as one of the final battles. Hearing about that time period in Okinawa was fascinating to Kenney and she wanted to learn more about the culture and the impact of the war. She began to research and collect photographs of veterans and family members of the time period, and applied her bead weaving to those ideas.
Kenney’s goal for the project is to promote new dialogue across generations, and most importantly with the generation of brave men and women who participated in World War II.
“So many World War II veterans are now in their 90s, and I feel compelled to do this project before their collective voices are lost forever,” Kenney said.
Over the past 10 years, she has created more than 30 tapestries that help honor veterans from World War II. One of whom is TCU’s own Major Horace Carswell Jr. '39 who died at age 28 while serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. After refusing to abandon his fellow crew members, Carswell perished attempting to steer his B-24 bomber to safety after it was crippled by enemy fire. His courageous act of heroism earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor.
“I guess my own unique way of making the world a better place through this project is to encourage people to go up into their attics and find the family treasures from previous generations and make sure that they are gathering and sharing these stories,” Kenney said.
April Brown, Director of TCU Veterans Services expressed her appreciation for Kenney celebrating military veterans, especially a fellow Horned Frog.
“I applaud Maureen Kenney in honoring Carswell through her art. The intersection of art and history brings increased visibility to Carswell and his connection to TCU. I hope that her art will inspire people to learn about his sacrifice and service to our country.”
Kenney’s art exhibit can be viewed at the Doss Heritage Center in Weatherford through Jan. 27, 2024. The artist will also conduct personal tours from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Dec. 2, Jan. 6 and Jan. 27. In this display are 17 tapestries, utilizing more than 400,000 beads.
Kenney also collaborated with the National Medal of Honor Museum, under construction in Arlington, TX and scheduled to open in 2025, to cobrand the Carswell artwork in the exhibit.
In a written statement provided by the National Medal of Honor Museum, they wrote: "Maureen Kenney's remarkable talent shines brightly as she weaves intricate beaded tapestries, each a labor of love and a testament to her deep respect for history. She pays special tribute to the heroic Major Horace Carswell, one of the fewer than 4,000 Medal of Honor recipients, whose bravery will forever be etched in our nation's memory."
Kenney said, the standalone piece is her way of honoring Carswell during TCU’s 150th milestone celebration.
