The Rose River Memorial is a grassroots community art movement that honors and grieves the many lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. We aspire to create a felt rose as a symbol of grief for every life lost.
In May 2021, Artist Marcos Lutyens will collaborate with Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center to create a Rose River Memorial on Maui at the Hui’s Makawao campus to honor the lives lost to COVID-19 in the State of Hawai‘i. Members of the Maui community have made more than 500 felt roses in remembrance of their loved ones. Maui’s healthcare workers, students, non-profit organizations, council members, government employees, and families have all contributed to the project.
To honor this occasion safely, the Rose River Memorial will open with a private blessing on May 15 and everyone is welcome to join us virtually to watch the opening ceremony via Facebook on May 21 at 4pm.
The memorial will be on display and open to the public at Hui No‘eau from May 17 - September 4, 2021. Ultimately the roses made for the Hui’s installation will be gathered and mailed to be part of a larger exhibit in Washington D.C. in 2022.
We invite the community to visit the Hui, view the outdoor memorial, and reflect on the pandemic and its impacts on our community and our world. Please observe social distancing and wear masks when viewing the memorial.
To learn more about Artist Marcos Lutyens and the Rose River Memorial, please visit https://www.roseriver.memorial/. To make a donation to support the costs of this project, please visit huinoeau.com/give or call (808) 572-6560 ext. 33.
Mahalo to all the many individuals who participated in the project as well as Marcos Lutyens and ‘ohana, Jill Bernshouse, Dean Tokishi of KIRC, Akakū: Maui Community Media, Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers, Women Helping Women, Haleakala Waldorf High School, Realtor's Association of Maui (RAM), Roots School, Kaiser Permanente, Maui County Council Members, the Mayor's Office and Office of Economic Development, Hui Staff and Teachers, Hui Members, Kiwanis Club of Maui, Valley Isle Kiwanis Club, Kahului Kiwanis Club, Maui High School Key Club, and King Kekaulike High School Key Club