Eliott Cherry

About the Artist

Author, composer, and performer of A Finished Heart, conversations between a dying man and his spouse, with story, poetry, and music.

When his husband of sixteen years became ill, Eliott Cherry cared for him at home. He also recorded their conversations in his diary. After Chris Chenard died in 2007, Eliott wrote poetry, prose, and music and combined these with his journal entries to create A Finished Heart, a 70-minute, one-man performance scored with music for solo piano. The piece expresses the complexity of end-of-life experience.

By sharing the intimacy of two men who have committed their lives to each other, Cherry hopes that A Finished Heart will stimulate participants to validate their most tender feelings and the need for them to be embraced and cherished, to discover compassionate ways to be with dying individuals and their loved ones, and to broaden their perspectives on dying, care-giving, grief, and life.

Further goals are to build respect for the diversity of human relationships, and to offer a role model and hope for gay youth who may despair that spousal relationships are not possible for them.

Eliott Cherry seeks to bring A Finished Heart to diverse audiences throughout Maine and beyond.