LaurenGibson.Art

In June 2019 a close friend suffered the miscarriage of her baby. As she fell into my arms sobbing, I was standing there thinking to myself “what can I possibly say or do that helps?”.  

I have experienced this situation before that day and sadly again after, fact is I know this situation too well because I know too many of my friends who have lost their precious babies in pregnancy, prematurely, or soon after. I am fortunate to have never experienced that kind of grief as a mother, but I can imagine, and still every time I see a beautiful strong woman turned into a shell of herself with the grief of a lost child, I’m left wondering “how I can possibly help?”.

According to the Sands website, each year in Australia 1,724 babies are stillborn, 700 die in the days or weeks after birth and it is estimated a further 103,688 pregnancies are lost to miscarriage. 100 Hearts is not nearly enough to remember, honour and represent the sheer scale of babies lost and families left devestated by those losses, but I can only hope it is enough break down some of the stigmas, silence of suffering and bring some light to the dark for these families. I also hope this visual representation of remembrance provides a sense of community, and comfort, that anyone suffering can reach out, because they are definitely not alone.

So, over the next 100 days I will launch 100 rainbow bleeding hearts, these will be available for purchase for $100 (AUD) with 100% of profits (minus postage & handling) being donated to Sands. Sands is an Australian volunteer-based organization who provides care, support and hope for families following the death of a baby. You can learn more about Sands at www.sands.org.au.

Each heart is an unframed original, hand painted watercolour, rainbow heart on 9x12inch, painted on 300gm watercolour paper and will fit nicely in standard sized frames, which you can purchase from most homeware stores.

Each heart purchased will be reposted across my social media accounts in honour and remembrance of the angels we have loved and lost, and the original hearts will be posted out every Friday until the end of the project.

I aim to keep this project as inclusive as possible, it is about spreading love and support for bereaved families. This project is open to anyone who wishes to participate, even if you have not lost a child of your own, chances are you know someone who has, and this project is geared to give an opportunity to recognise that loss and acknowledge the effect it has. If you have not experienced a loss of your own and just want to take part, please feel free to purchase a heart for yourself, which can be dedicated to all the children who have been lost, or make a donation to this Sands fundraising page directly and know that your money is going to an amazing organisation that is supporting bereaved families through their darkest hours.

Though fragments of this project have sat in the back of my mind for over a year, it really all just came together suddenly in the last few days, so bear with me as I attempt to do something crazy on a whim, but all for a good cause and in the admiration of the strength of the couples I love, who have endured this grief and carried on.

I give you the #100HeartsProject for the three dearly loved babies who inspired this project, Baby Perry, Johnathon & Isabel.

With Love, 

Lauren x 

#100heartsproject