Hope Sees a Star Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Chelise Stroud Hery, founder
ZNE Art
925-249-0979
info@ZNEart.com
http://www.HopeSeesaStar.com

Local Artists and Crafters Announce the Hope Sees a Star Memorial project.

Pleasanton, CA, September 4, 2007 – ZNE, an international group of independent artists and crafts persons, announces the Hope Sees a Star memorial project.  Working in conjunction with Laurel True (founder of of the Institute of Mosaic Arts in Oakland), and the Oakland Zoo, ZNE plans to create a permanent installation in memory of two local teenage girls – Stevie McMoyler and Brianna Grant - whose lives were lost earlier this year in April and June, respectively.

Gina Gabriell of San Ramon and Iva Wilcox of Danville, are two artists who share a tragic connection.  Both women’s daughters were diagnosed with fatal diseases in late 2006.  In April of this year, Gina’s daughter Stevie McMoyler died from a brain tumor at the age of 19.  In June, Iva Wilcox’s daughter, Brianna Grant, was only 17 years old when she died from a rare disease ~ MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome).  ZNEart.com is an international group of artisans, headquartered in Pleasanton. 

When ZNE group members found out about the two deaths, they wanted to go beyond extending traditional condolences to Gina and Iva, given the magnitude of their loss.  Because the group is so large, many members have never met Gina or Iva, but they still wanted to reach out and extend support.  Both Stevie’s and Brianna’s families have been touched by the effort.

“In many places in the world a grieving mother is surrounded and cared for. The entire village mourns with her. They try in their own way to take a tiny bit of her sorrow so she will not have to carry it all herself.  Who would have thought that here were there are no villages, where people sometimes don't even know their neighbors - that Iva and I would experience this same loving embrace from our community.  Nothing can heal this loss, but the kindness helps me to endure, to believe in the goodness of all things again.”  Says Gina Gabriell, of the Hope Sees a Star project.

In January of 2008, Laurel True, a world renowned mosaic artist, will begin designing a permanent mosaic art installation in memory of the two girls.   The installation is scheduled to be installed in the Butterfly Conservation Garden at The Oakland Zoo in May of 2008.  The memorial will incorporate the sentiment:  “In Memory of Stevie and Brianna – forever loved daughters of the creative community.”  In conjunction with the installation, a $5,000 donation will be made to the Zoo.  Staff at the Oakland Zoo have indicated that they hope to use the funds to support an intern who will be a caretaker for the garden.

Working with its membership, ZNE is holding an online sale and auction October 1 – October 15, to raise the funds needed for the memorial project.  ZNE is presently soliciting both sponsorships, and donations of art, art supplies, crafts, vintage items, and gift certificates from local businesses to include in the fundraising auction.  You can find more information on the Hope Sees a Star website, www.HopeSeesaStar.com, or email Chelise Stroud Hery at info@ZNEart.com.

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