Creating a positive, calming and safe environment for families throughout our various facilities has always been an important component of our organization. For 10 years, Hospice by the Bay has partnered with Traci Teraoka to incorporate warmth and balance in areas where patients and families typically gather, such as bereavement therapy spaces and hospice rooms.
In 2019, HBTB’s COO Wendy Ranzau and CFO Denis Viscek reached out to Traci to help create and design calm lounge spaces at HBTB’s headquarters in Larkspur, using powerful artwork in these areas to add beauty and strength to the building, and to potentially help employees cope and find peace through art. Though the project was delayed due to the pandemic, Tracie was recently able to revisit the project and begin creating a beautiful space.
Traci reached out to local Bay Area artist, Lucy Liew, because of her beautiful, engaging and peaceful pieces, but Lucy’s artwork has a much deeper meaning and connection to Hospice by the Bay, particularly during these challenging times.
Each of Lucy’s pieces are inspired by Sonoma County landscapes, and highlights themes of loss and resiliency throughout her work in relation to California wildfires, and the beautiful flowers that bloom as a result of decimation, representing the beauty that follows devastation.
“Springing Forth” is a striking piece that features California Golden Poppies with a powerful gray center. This piece is hung above the reception desk in the lobby area and has become a major focal point within the building. Its notable gray center represents the smoke that fills a community during a wildfire, but it also depicts the grief, loss, loneliness and devastation that many individuals have felt during this incredibly challenging time. Although the gray center represents deep emotions, “Springing Forth” symbolizes the process of healing as the California Poppies bring beauty to a place of devastation. As described by the artist, the key concept behind this piece is to take deliberate action to “move forward” by supporting one another after a devastating and tragic event, being gentle with oneself, taking in the beauty that surrounds us despite the hardships we face, and acknowledging the complexities of the grieving process and the time it takes to heal.
Throughout the building you can find pieces, such as “The Grandmother Oak,” highlighting Oak Trees and Rolling Hills that represent the celebration of life, beauty, strength and persistence to thrive; “Fleurs Sauvages” series of wildflowers painted with white silhouettes to symbolize the beauty that is to come after a fire/devastation; the milkmaid flowers featured in “Harbinger of Spring” which represent the humility and the first sign of healing, as these flowers are the first to bloom after a tragic event.
These pieces have brought the themes of resiliency and healing to life throughout Hospice by the Bay’s headquarters and have become a reminder of the beautiful work we contribute to the community as an organization. Although there is a sense of grief, loss and devastation as a result of COVID, California Wildfires, and the personal challenges we face on a daily basis, Lucy’s art inspires us to spring forward and unveil the resiliency that lies deep within us.
Click here to view the rest of the art pieces and read about their meanings.