Rose River Memorial:
Covid Victims of the Americas
39" x 39" x 3" Mixed media 2021
Rose River Memorial: Covid Victims of the Americas is dedicated to all those who have been lost to Covid in the Americas. One person from each of the 34 nations that has experienced deaths from Covid was chosen to represent the more than 1.5 million and rising, Covid deaths in the region. Each rose has been specially crafted and ribbons attached to represent the flag colors of the particular nation, as well as name, age and date of passing of each person. Sometimes general statistics leave us numb which is why actual names have been included. One of the 34 roses is dedicated to more than one person. It honors frontline doctor twins Kevin and Jenneth Guerra from Belize, who died at the age of 33, one day apart from each other. The 34 roses were crafted through a community collaboration with the West Hollywood Brownies Troop #2825, led by Lindsay Calac.
The Rose River Memorial is lead by artist Marcos Lutyens and has been active around the US, creating memorials with the community in several states including California, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Hawaii, with the ultimate goal of creating a nation-scale memorial of one rose for each person who has passed from Covid to be exhibited in Washington DC. As a psychomagic process, inspired by filmmaker Alejandro Jodowosky, the project aims to help with grieving and healing and we are grateful for being given the opportunity to extend this process into the Americas Region.The project has been especially supported in this regard by artist curator Marisa Caichiolo.
The netting which has coral growth on it was pulled from the waters of the marine sanctuary of Kaho’olawe by Dean Tokishi. This helps protect animal species while showing our efforts at Rose River Memorial are social as well as ecological.