TUSCUMBIA-An installation memorial to lives lost to COVID-19 has been installed at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art front entrance. Two thousand saffron orange ribbons flutter in the breeze as each one represents a life lost to the current pandemic. Presently, nearly two thousand Americans die every two days of the coronavirus or from coronavirus-related complications. As Alabama approaches more than 760 losses from the virus, the museum staff encourages community members to stop by the museum to attach a yellow ribbon in remembrance of friends and family that have passed from COVID-19.
The idea for the memorial came about in a staff meeting the first day the museum reopened to the public after the state mandated stay-at-home orders were relaxed. The day the museum closed to the public, there were no deaths to COVID-19 in the state of Alabama; the day they returned, over five hundred people had died. Shortly thereafter, losses of over 110,000 nation-wide were reported. The staff of four: director, Christi Britten; curator, Jonathan Cain; operations manager, Keith McMurtrey, and arts integration programs director, Stephanie Vickers collaborated on a concept that would both honor the victims of the pandemic and inspire hope for the future. The memorial strives to give viewers a sense of scale to loss knowing we are still in the midst of containing this outbreak.
The installation is inspired by legendary contemporary artist Cristo who passed away on May 31 at the age of 92. Cristo and his late partner Jean-Claude were famous for large scale public art installations like The Gates, which ran through Central Park in New York City . Their pieces explored concepts of space, place, and presence.
The memorial is in place now through August 31. Visit tennesseevalleyarts.org or call 256-383-0533 for more information. Tennessee Valley Museum of Art is located at 511 N. Water St. Tuscumbia, AL 35674.
Executive Director/Tennessee Valley Arts Association
