Center for the Arts, Lake Sunapee Region is delighted to have sponsored the making of the video observing the work of the St. Andrew’s Youth Group and their project: 2020 Remembered – A Prayer Flag Memorial.
The goal of the project was to bring awareness to the deaths in NH from Covid 19. On March 23, 2020, NH recorded its first death from the virus. One year later the number of deaths from the virus have reached 1,217. The prayer flags are a visual representation of the loss and remind us all that each flag is not just a number but a person who has died and who had friends and family that love them. The students also created flags to pay homage to the selfless essential workers that continue to care for the sick and dying.
Barbara Hunting, CFA Board member, said, “I saw the story on the news, was curious about it and made an effort to go see it. To say that I was overwhelmed is an understatement. The view of the colorful, fluttering flags not only brought home the reality of this pandemic, but it offered a way to comprehend what has been unimaginable. I was struck by the similarity between the New London prayer flags and the prayer flags found in Nepal, Tibet, and India, suggesting an international commonality. It occurred to me that this was the very definition of creativity and the arts. As such, the CFA, is very honored to recognize these young people for not only a commitment to the arts, but as a thank you for a gift to the entire community.”
CFA underwrote the cost of making the video and upon seeing the video Hunting said, “It’s perfect. Actually, it exceeds perfection. This is exactly what I had in mind as a board member of CFA and to have this sort of sensitivity and kindness in our community, as so eloquently presented by young people, makes me unbelievably proud and grateful.”
The members of the youth group are Ayla Frenkiewich, Kylin Frenkiewich, Margaret Greenwood, Toby MacLeod, Emmy Potter, Katie Potter, Erin Wheeler and Jenna Wheeler. The youth group leaders are Lisa Kelly, Theresa Quinn and Ellen Yenawine.
To view the video, you can go to The Center for the Arts Home page at centerfortheartsnh.org or the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church YouTube page at youtube.com/watch?v=SmCcehNayYo.