LCMC Health collaborated with Where y’Art Works to create a collection of eight custom artworks by eight different local artists in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Our partnership is especially meaningful, as we were both born out of the aftermath of a post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans and have grown as a response to the needs of our area through a shared commitment to community, culture, and rebuilding a stronger New Orleans. This collaboration underscores the deep connection between the people of New Orleans, our local art community, our healing, and our continued resilience.
See the Collection
East Jefferson General HospitalArtist: Sarah Nelson
The massive Tree of Life represents the intrepid live oak trees of Jefferson Parish that have weathered many storms, whose roots have stayed firmly planted through adversity, as a pillar of strength. As the light shines from the back of the painting through the trees, we feel hope. It is the light that illuminates the dark times and guides our path forward. The heart carved in the tree is a nod to the LCMC Health logo, as well as a symbol celebrating East Jefferson General Hospital’s opening day on Valentine's Day, 1971. The color palette, as well as the pelican, are representations of our partnership with Tulane. |
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Lakeside HospitalArtist: Breanna Thompson
Created for Lakeside Hospital for LCMC Health’s observation of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, this layered resin collage merges clay, paper, acrylic paint, beads, and sequins into a vision of a community both rooted and enduring, celebrating rebirth and connection. At its center stands the Tree of Life, its turquoise trunk and branches alive with purple leaves, embodying vitality, healing, and imagination. The tree is established in shimmering water that carries the memory of both loss and renewal. Beneath the surface, sequins sparkle like submerged stars, honoring the unseen strength survival often demands of our community. The tree dons 20 clusters of oak blossoms, marking twenty years since the storm, and shelters figures spanning generations. A pelican perches high in the branches as the great caretaker, watching over the babies — a nod to Tulane’s partnership and to the natural guardians of our waters. I, as a baby, rest on a branch, while my daughter is nestled in her cradle board amongst the roots. The cradle boards draw from the designs and traditions of the Indigenous peoples of Bulbancha, echoing Chatah, Houma, and Chitimacha motifs. Three painted clay diamonds are seen at the base of the tree, their forms rooted in Chatah tradition and inspired by the markings of the diamondback rattlesnake — a guardian symbol, a map of balance between the four directions, and a reminder of the path forward. Here, they grow from the trunk as if born of the tree itself, offering guidance, protection, and renewal to the community. Above them, a bold orange triangle points upward, while radiant concentric circles outlined in orange radiate energy and transformation, echoing the diamonds as painted clay forms. |
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Lakeview HospitalArtist: Maggie Covert LeBlanc
At the center stands a magnificent tree, its roots tangling and weaving beneath the surface. Above, branches are filled with vibrant wildlife, representing the Tree of Life. A red cardinal rests, and a squirrel stops for a snack. The teal-winged ducks take flight together — all animals coexist harmoniously, illustrating the beauty of unity and its roots of resilience. With soft yet vibrant colors and dynamic elements, this piece invites viewers to reflect on the power of support and the importance of community and overcoming adversity. |
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Manning Family Children’sArtist: Mary Singleton
Manning Family Children’s is more than a medical center; it is a sanctuary of comfort, compassion, and exceptional care for children and their families across the region. The tree at its heart offers shade, shelter, and strength, inspiring all who pass through its doors. My hope is that this work mirrors that same spirit of optimism, providing a moment of beauty and reassurance for all who encounter it. |
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New Orleans East HospitalArtist: Sean Clark
This work features two figures tenderly embracing. One figure is being held while the other serves as a pedestal and protector. The adult figure is symbolic of the Tree of Life. There are vines and flowers wrapped around the main figure, whose arms serve as branches that are a resting place as well as a protective barrier. The child’s gaze is directed towards the East as a gesture of hope and looking toward the future. The blue band below the figures represents the troubled waters of the past. The figures are placed above it to say that we are in troubled waters no more. |
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TouroArtist: Cheryl Anne Grace
The piece features the Tree of Life with details from the surrounding neighborhood. Houses with shrubbery, mansions with cast-iron fences, cottages with lanterns, and streetcars numbered with green and red accents all celebrate the area where Touro is located. A baby is nestled within the branches, referencing Touro’s reputation as the place “where babies come from,” while the Mississippi River flows beneath the tree. Above the entrance door, 1852 appears, celebrating the hospital’s founding year. |
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University Medical CenterArtist: Gabriel Flowers
The blue lines forming the roots are shaped from the tributaries of the Mississippi River. The concave arch at the base, in deep blue, recalls the ‘bowl’ that filled during Hurricane Katrina, now reimagined as being filled with the ever-evolving ways UMC responds to the needs of our community. With multiple academic affiliations, including LSU Health and Tulane University, UMC trains more than 2,800 future healthcare providers each year. The color palette honors these institutions: greens and blues for Tulane, and purple and gold for LSU. The moon and sun speak to the tireless, round-the-clock work of healthcare providers, and the branches represent the outreach of the care UMC has provided to the broader community over the years. |
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West Jefferson Medical CenterArtist: Max Bernardi
The hospital is portrayed as a Tree of Life, specifically a cypress tree gently shaped into a heart, which suggests the LCMC Health logo. It is firmly rooted in the watery landscape, as evidenced by its surrounding knees, just as the hospital is rooted in the community. Casting his line into the bayou from a metal pirogue, the fisherman stands as an “every man” who counts on the hospital and medical center for health support. The boardwalk, reminiscent of the one that weaves through the fringes of Lafitte National Park, represents our journey through life. Just as many people in South Louisiana count on the bayou’s waters for their living and sustenance, our Westbank communities rely on the hospital for care. |
For over 50 years, East Jefferson General Hospital has been deeply rooted
in Metairie. This painting depicts the resiliency of the hospital's growth
post-Katrina.
This tranquil artwork depicts the transformative journey of growth and
community for Lakeview Hospital in the twenty years post Hurricane Katrina.
Viewed from a distance, ducks commune around a small body of water. Beneath
this, a trio of turtles rests along a log to bask in the sunlight. Both
groups of animals symbolize feelings of refuge while still being at home
in their environment. As one mallard duck tests its ability to fly, it
rises, embodying the renewal and connection of a community.
This painting honors the vibrant spirit of Manning Family Children’s
and the community it serves. Layers of delicate, overlapping leaves form
the shape of a tree reaching upward, a symbol of growth, resilience, and
the enduring bonds that nurture healing. The rising form reflects the
resilience of New Orleans while evoking a sense of lightness, hope, and
forward movement. Bright, joyful shapes convey the energy of childhood
and the promise of a healthy future.
I was inspired by New Orleans East Hospital’s story of opening its
doors to extend care to the people of New Orleans East. It is a beacon
of hope and well-being in the community.
Touro has been an important part of my family’s life. My husband
was born there, and our primary care doctors are based there. This painting
is my way of giving back to a hospital that has cared for us for many years.
The Tree of Life in Audubon Park inspired the central tree in this work
and symbolizes generations of the local community. At the heart of UMC
is the enduring spirit of Charity Hospital, represented by the official
seal at the center of the work, a connection that is especially meaningful
to me, as my mom graduated from Charity’s nursing school in 1994.
For nearly 70 years, West Jefferson Medical Center has provided care to
the Westbank communities of Jefferson, Plaquemines, and St. Charles Parishes.
Reflecting on this, I considered West Jefferson’s proximity to Bayou
Segnette and how the bayou connects these parishes.
About Where y'Art Works
Where y’Art Works is a full-service art consulting company that connects organizations and individuals with local artists who create work for and about the communities they serve. Where y’Art Works was born out of a commitment to build an infrastructure of support for New Orleans artists as a City rebuilding post Katrina. Ten plus years later, we continue on, driven by the belief that local art has the ability to improve quality of life, inspire creativity, propel economic growth, and create an elevated sense of identity, inclusion, and place.