Kelly McCook
Entrepreneur, Veteran, Artist
Kelly Brockway is currently a studio artist and art instructor at The Averitt Center For The Arts in Statesboro, Georgia. She is a full time professional artist who instructs Corks & Canvas events at various venues throughout the state of Georgia, draws and paints commissioned portraits of people and pets, designs and paints indoor and outdoor large scale murals, and works on a volunteer basis to create public art for her local community. Brockway is most well known for her graphite drawing entitled ‘The Transition,’ which is her self portrait depicting her legs and feet (from the knee down) with a combat boot on one foot and a high heel on the other. When she drew her first drawing of ‘The Transition’ in 2003, it represented her ability to serve honorably and courageously as an active duty Marine while still maintaining her femininity. In 2014, Brockway left the active duty Marine Corps and joined the Army National Guard. During this time, ‘The Transition’ took on a new meaning. It represented Brockway’s ability to “transition” from a middle school art teacher, wife, and mother, to a soldier once a month. Brockway retired from the Army National Guard on March 1, 2018, after which she realized ‘The Transition’ had yet another interpretation for her; it now represents her final “transition” from military member to veteran.
Brockway feels very blessed to be able to use her God given talent to inspire others and to make them happy. She loves that even though she is retired from the military, she is still able to be a part of the military community and of the sisterhood of women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.