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A collection of 11 tribute posters for patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19. Each poster has a different background, words, and imagery to describe who it was made for. From left to right: A blue poster with white details. Lining the top is the name “May” in an embellished white font. In the center is the head of an elephant. Throughout are the phrases: “caring soul”, “loving”, “warm”, “gospel music”, “big family”, “tiffany & co”, and “top jewelry saleswoman” in white fonts. A small casino sign is in the bottom right corner with the symbols for the different card suits next to it: a heart, spade, club, and a diamond. A black poster with white and gold details. The name “Sato” decorates the top in a gold font. Underneath the name is a fish swimming upwards. Surrounding the fish are golden bubbles and the phrases: “likes to fish”, "classical music”, “faithful christian”, “chef in a japanese restaurant”, “art & music lover” in white fonts. A red poster with a black border. The name “Morgan” is written across the top in a black font. The outline of a hand is in the center filled in with the phrases: “plumber” “boxer”, “deacon”, “electrician”, “virginia”, “big hands”, and “handyman”. Surrounding the hand are more phrases like “gospel” and “loves music” all of the phrases are in black fonts besides gospel which is in white. There are two leafy symbols in white on either side of the hand. A green poster with black leafy details. The name “Sam” is written across the top in a bubble font. In the center is a dog in black. Throughout the poster are the phrases: “green thumb”, “engineer”, “spot”, “from Chile”, family man”, and “devoted” in black fonts. A New York Yankees symbol–a ‘Y’ covering an ‘N’--is in the bottom center in black. A blue poster with black leafy details and a black dotted border. The name “Carlos” is written across the top in a thin white calligraphy font. The phrases “#1 dad”, “devoted father of 9”, “stuntman in movies”, and “loves music” decorate the poster in black and white fonts. A white poster with red and yellow flowers, hearts, and plants decorating it. The name “Rosa” is near the middle in a red font, the space in the letters ‘r’, ‘o’ and ‘a’ are filled in with yellow. The phrases “energetic” and “light spirit” are in black. Beneath them are illustrations of a bowl filled with oatmeal next to a coffee grinder and a steaming mug of coffee. At the bottom, a small red hand points at the phrase “the crispy skin portion of a pork shoulder!” in a red font. A yellow poster with black plants and lined details. The name “Sonique” lines the top in a black font. Underneath is the logo of a football team that has a white circle outlined in gray and yellow, red, and blue diamond shapes touching at the top, right side, and bottom with the word “Steelers” in black on the left side of the circle. Below that are the words “mac & cheese” in a red font above an illustration of a bowl filled with mac & cheese. Decorating the rest of the poster are the phrases: “½ Spanish”, “½ Cuban”, “music”, “football”, “Chaka Khan”, and “watching TV” in black fonts. A poster with a blue, yellow, pink, and green sunburst background. The name “Chris” lines the top in an embellished black font. Beneath that is a black cross. Surrounding the cross are the phrases: “faithful”, “extrovert”, “loves people”, “bright”, “friendly”, “cheerful”, “bubbly”, “loyal”, “loves shopping, watching TV”, and “likes to talk & read” in black fonts. An orange poster with black dotted and lined details. The name Mateo decorates the top in a bold, black font. A black cat sits in the center, looking to the right. Underneath the cat is a chocolate bar and a cup of coffee. Decorating the poster are the phrases: “likes to joke”, “el diario”, “loves his black cat named coal’, “TV”, “warm perdon”, “sweet tooth”, and “loves music of Marco Antonio Solis” in black fonts. A white poster with black and red hearts and plants decorating it. In a red banner across the top is the name “June” in a white font. An illustration of an orange sweet potato pie in a blue dish is in the center. Throughout the poster are the phrases: “loves 60’s R&B music”, “most famous sweet potato pie”, “amazing nurse”, “loves helping others”, “very feisty”, “loves cooking and eating” and “mother of 10 kids” in red and black fonts. A black poster with white and gold details. The name “Francesca” lines the top in a white font. An illustration of Patsy Cline is in the center with the phrase “Patsy Cline or fall to pieces” written in her hair. Decorating the poster are the phrases: “opera”, “catholic”, “loves Patsy Cline”, “loves black & white movies”, and “strong work ethic” are in white and gold fonts.
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Covid Tribute Poster Project 2

The amount of deaths in our hospital during the peak of Covid was overwhelming . We set up a small hospice unit inside our hospital so that patients could die in comfort and peace. As a chaplain I wanted my patients to be humanized and not just a number. With my social workers, we’d contact the family of the dying patient, and gather information, such as their favorite color, their achievements, an image or symbol they loved, and descriptive qualities revealing something about who they were. Putting all this information together, I’d create a 20 x 30-inch Tribute Poster, bring it to the unit and hang it above the patient’s bed.

This had a healing effect on the staff. The doctors, nurses, NP’s, social workers and chaplains loved learning about who their patients were in life, their hopes, dreams and loves. It humanized them. It also became a major focal point when families were able to visit the last hours of their loved ones life. The posters evoked stories, memories, laughter and sadness; it elicited healing for the family on the first steps into the vast landscape of grief. A special note: All names have been anonymized for privacy, as well as some personal details.