Covid-19 Memorial
The mission of Community Arts and Empowerment is to create public art mosaics for, by, and with the community. We strive to amplify the underrecognized voices of our community.
Commissioned by the city of Watsonville, we were selected because of our inclusive RFQ process, which targets local artists of color. Selected artists are mentored through the entire process so that they become confident in their own abilities to apply for future public art projects.
Monica Galvan was selected, a mid-career artist of Mexican descent without any prior public art experience. Monica and Kathleen interviewed individuals who had lost loved ones to COVID and asked what they would like to see in a memorial.
- Needs to be genuine.
- No names on the memorial to respect families that are healing
- A sculpture is preferred over a mural
- It must remember the lives that have been lost, not dwell on the way they passed
- Be a symbol of our transition between life and death,
- It should be interactive
- Instead of an image of a person, it’s better to use a plant or animal that has transitions, like a butterfly, something that has stages. We prefer something universal and approachable by everyone, not young, not old, not a POC or a white person.
- It should be in a spot where happy memories continue to be made.
Working from the above list, the 2-sided butterfly was designed, one side for happy photos and the other for quiet contemplation.
Kathleen constructed the butterfly. The glass tile mosaics were fabricated in the Community Arts & Empowerment studio with community volunteers. Monica made the handmade ceramic tile marigolds in her studio. The community was invited to choose a marigold and place it on the butterfly during on-site installation.
