Rise Up is a COVID-19 memorial and tribute from Project Art Heals. This sustainable, collaborative multimedia project blends art, medicine, science, and community.
Rise Up presents three brightly colored human figures comprising small mementos donated by the public to commemorate pandemic losses and journeys, and countless pieces of clean health care waste. The figures are joyously jumping and “held in space” by thousands of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials.
When I received my first COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020, I asked for the vial to remember that moment and to symbolize our path to healing. I wanted to honor our patients, our community, health care workers, science, and humanity. The COVID-19 global pandemic has affected most everyone on earth, but there was no community tribute for the pandemic. People across the globe were experiencing pandemic fatigue, and health care communities were suffering profound moral injury and burnout (including me). I felt...
