We are also pleased to be working with the Oakland Zoo to locate an apropriate installation spot for the memorial. Our hope is to have it permanently installed somewhere in the Zoo's Butterfly Conservation Garden.
The Oakland Zoo Butt
erfly Garden is at total of 120 square feet of blooming habitat for butterflies, caterpillars and other pollinators.
As a group, ZNE/PCM will also be making a donation to the Oakland Zoo Butterfly Garden, in memory of Stevie and Brianna - in conjunction with the memorial installation.
The Hope Sees a Star memorial effort is a huge undertaking, and yet it is only a tiny gesture on our group's part, an expression of our shared grief - and the knowledge that Stevie and Brianna will live forever in the hearts of those who loved them, and the memories of those (some of whom they never met) whose lives were touched by their stories.
In order to make this memorial a reality, PCM/ZNE will fundraise through the end of the year, and in accordance with Laurel True's schedule - the creation of the mosaic will begin in January.
Stevie's and Brianna's families will be invited to provide information about the girls' favorite colors, to incorporate in the design - and they will also have the opportunity to include a special momento of their choosing to represent their daughters and be pressed in to the mosaic memorial.
Our hope is that the memorial will be officially presented in May of 2008 - aproximately one year after the girls' deaths. The aniversary of the death of a loved one is often a highly emotional and painful time for friends and family members. It is our wish that the memorial shall serve as a permanent reminder that these beautiful young women are not forgotten, that their lives are valued, as are the contributions of their mothers to the art community, at large.
We need your help to make this happen.
Please stay tuned to this blog for regular updates, information on fundraising efforts, and volunteer opportunities - all coming soon.
In the meantime, I would like to share with you the communication we have received in regard to this memorial, from Gina Gabriell and Iva Wilcox.
From Gina Gabriell:
I am sitting here in tears. What a beautiful and loving thing to do for our daughters and for our families.
I thank you and oh the words I need escape me, I am just so touched.
Please tell everyone how important and wonderful this is to me...
My daughter was an incredible person and missing her is the hardest thing I have had to do, I am split in half, a mothers heart must have what it must have and there is an empty place inside me that aches, what I would give to have her here with me today.
Stevie was amazing, I know people say that when someone they love dies, but I would say it if she were still alive and driving me crazy with normal teenager stuff.
No one thought she would die, it didn't seem possible, she was so good, so full of potential and she had this thing, I can't describe it, she was vital in so many ways. This world was a better place because she was a part of it and everyone was waiting for her to turn it upside down, change it, fill it up with who she was going to be.
She was gifted, and brilliant, I mean that, she had a very impressive IQ, she just knew things, intellectually and spiritually. She would never brag about it or make anyone feel less than brilliant themselves, she could see the best parts of everyone, she could see the worst too but mostly she knew that people were good.
She told me once, "Mom, we are all one. When one person cries we all carry that sadness, when another person wins a Gold medal it belongs to all of us, we get everything, we are everything" She was right.
She was a nerd through and through but she was beautiful, soulful and loved so much about this life.
Sometimes I was not sure who was the parent, she taught me so many things, gave me so much love, and always tried to make sure I was happy. She stood by me as much as I stood by her. We were inseparable, I still can't find a way to let her go, not sure I ever will, she is my heart.
She didn't like butterflies particularly, she liked snails and turtles. The funny thing is that she had a perfect butterfly birthmark on her arm. Everyone thought it was a tattoo. When she died the butterflies just appeared. The woman who did the flowers for the funeral felt the need to put beautiful hand painted butterflies on long wire stems into the vases of yellow tulips (she loved yellow tulips) They were so beautiful and seemed so right.
One of my relatives bought hundreds of live butterfies to be released at her grave site, it was breathtaking.
We didn't make it a them it just happened, I think it was meant to be. They are the perfect symbol. When she was really sick I use to give her a guided meditation. I would tell her that being sick was just a resting place for her body, it was slowing down and getting ready to sleep so it could change, I told her when she was well again she would emerge strong, and beautiful, she would spread her enormous wings and they would lift her higher than she had ever been, she would do all the things she wanted to do.
I suppose that happened. Just not the way we wished.
Sorry to ramble like this, it just happens.
I am so touched and again so grateful.
Gina Gabriell
M/O The best girl in the whole world, my best Friend, my teacher, my everything, Stevie.
From Iva Wilcox:
Thank you for reaching out to us with your beautiful proposal for a memorial mosaic and local art show and sale.
Your letter touched us and, I cried with your generosity to organize such events.
Brianna would love the idea of a butterfly garden and such a mosaic. And as outgoing as my daughter is, she would have liked to have met Stevie.
Also, thank your members for their kindness in participating in Angels for Brianna. There are many warm and caring artists out there, who I have not met but feel so honored to get to know this way.
I hope we meet so I can give you a hug for what you are doing.
Again, we appreciate all that you are doing in Brianna’s memory and I really do hope to meet you soon.
With much love and hugs....Iva
And finally, I leave you all with these two beautiful images from Stevie's memorial service, and Brianna's memorial service, respectively:
More information, on the Hope Sees a Star Memorial Mosaic project, coming soon. In the meantime:
Click the image above to find out how you can start helping, today!
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