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A Rose for Remembrance

A Rose for Remembrance is an artistic project and flower offering that commemorates murdered women, girls, transgender women, Two-Spirit People and people who identified as female. It consists of rose petals individually encased in resin, each containing a name and dates carefully incised on them. These rose petals are pink, which signify the everlasting love and memory we bare for these people. The objective of this project is to name and commemorate those whose lives have been cut short due to gender violence. A Rose for Remembrance sought to collaborate with family members, organizations and individuals to share the name of a person who was a victim of femicide, relevant date(s), and a short text describing a fond memory or short story of their loved one.

 

This body of work was born out of the need to heal collective wounds caused by gender violence, and the negligence of the authorities that hinder the resolution of these cases. A Rose for Remembrance aims to commemorate their lives and create community between bereaved families.

 

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A Rose for Remembrance is dedicated in memory of Ana Luisa Garduño, with whom I was able to briefly collaborate on this project.

Rose petal artwork - Ana Karen Huicochea Garduño

Ana Karen Huicochea Garduño

Text based on the conversation with Ana Luisa Garduño, Ana Karen’s mother. July 27, 2021.

 

Ana Karen was a cheerful, responsible and studious girl who loved music and dancing. She was an extraordinary daughter, sister and friend.

 

Through an X-Box Live game, Ana Karen met Eduardo from Zapopan, Jalisco. Later, they began an online relationship that lasted 10 months, in which he visited her in Morelos every other week. During this time, Eduardo hacked Ana Karen’s social media accounts because “she wasn’t paying attention to him.”  Ana Luisa, Ana Karen’s mother, confronted him about this issue and he later returned the accounts to her daughter. The situation led to the end of the relationship. 

 

On December 9, 2012, while the family was shopping for their businesses, Ana Luisa received a phone call letting her know that Eduardo was outside their house. Ana Karen didn’t want to see him, so her mother talks to him and tells him to stop bothering her daughter. He promises not to bother or approach Ana Karen anymore; Ana Luisa buys him some food and takes him to the bus station to return to Zapopan.

 

Ana Karen told her mom: “Eduardo is going to kill me.”

 

On December 11, the family moved to a new house due to the kidnapping of Ana Luisa’s husband some months previous to these events. Constant threats endangered the safety of the family for which the new address was kept secret and only known to the household. That same day Eduardo returned to their old house, finding it almost empty. Ana Karen’s father talks to him and tells him again to stop harassing his daughter. As a last courtesy, the family allows him to spend the night in the old place, on the condition that he would leave the house in the morning and never return.

 

On December 12, 2012, Eduardo slept or pretended to sleep until late. Around 2:30 pm he told Ana Luisa that he would go pick up his belongings from a hotel and he will later stop by to say goodbye to them. Shortly after, Ana Luisa noticed a lost call from her daughter on her cell phone and calls her back right away. At 3:15 pm Ana Karen told her that Eduardo was just outside the new house and had no idea how he got their new address. Ana Luisa told her not to open the door and rushed to their new home in a cab; upon arriving to their neighbourhood, she saw Eduardo leaving in a cab. At 3:30 pm Ana Luisa found her daughter lying on the floor of the living room. After calling 911 and asking for an ambulance, she found a bullet shell which made her realize that Ana Karen was already dead. Later, civil protection and police officers arrive, but no ambulance. During the investigations, the authorities ransack their house. 

 

Later that day, it is known that Ana Karen died from gunshot wounds to the head, chest and stomach. 

 

Although the authorities knew the whereabouts of Eduardo, he wasn’t detained because they didn’t have an arrest warrant against him. He ran away. On December 15, Ana Luisa personally initiated the search for the perpetrator. All the information compiled in Ana Karen’s investigation file was provided by her mother’s efforts.

 

Until the date of this conversation, 8 years and 6 months have passed without justice for Ana Karen. 

Rose petal artwork - Ana Luisa Garduño Juarez

Ana Luisa Garduño Juárez

Ana Luisa was an activist against feminicide, a lawyer, and a victims' rights advocate. She was murdered in Temixco, Morelos on Thursday January 27, 2022. She spent almost 10 years seeking justice for her daughter Ana Karen Huicochea Garduño, who was also murdered. Ana Luisa founded the collective “Ana Karen Vive AC” in honour of her daughter and was also a member of the “Victims Front of the State of Morelos.” In her fight, Ana Luisa not only advocated for her daughter’s case, but also for all the victims of feminicide in Mexico. She also supported other women and families of victims of feminicide and forced disappearance. She was a tenacious and exemplary woman who became a pillar for her community in the wake of losing her daughter.

 

It is with great sadness to know that her life was taken, and with deep sorrow that this project “A Rose for Remembrance” is dedicated to her memory.

Rose petal artwork - Angelica Ma Gonzalez Quintana

Angélica María González Quintana

You were the joy, the pillar, the love, the greatest example of strength and dedication, and an excellent mother.

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Intangible memento: “Lele” Mexican dolls.

Rose petal artwork - Cherry Lotus Ledesma

Cherry Lotus Ledesma

I was 8, she brought my siblings and [me] to taco bell. All I can remember is sitting across from her and she was laughing with tears...we were making her laugh being silly and she was happy. Happy with her children.

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Intangible memento: Flower - Purple Lotus. Her favorite colour, Grows in mud and blooms above beautifully.

Rose petal artwork - Deanna J Greyeyes

Deanna Jeanne Greyeyes

July 24, 1952 - November 23, 2018

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Ms. Deanna J. Greyeyes of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation passed away Friday, November 23, 2018 at the age of 66 years.  

Rose petal artwork - Graciela Chagoya Guzman

Graciela Chagoya Guzmán

June 30, 1953 - September 20, 1993

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The best moments we had together were when she and her children came to spend their holidays with us. Everything was happiness.

Intangible memento: I always remember her when I see the cross on the “Bufa” hill, because she used to say that it made her feel at home whenever she gazed upon it while she was visiting us.

Rose petal artwork - Jessica Chimal

Jessica Chimal

She was the first friend I had when I moved in. She was the first and only person I played dolls with. She was my best friend, the only girl who would talk to me, my first childhood friend, I loved her a lot, I mourned deeply her death.

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Intangible memento: Her way of laughing.

Rose petal artwork - Lorena Lira Barragan
Lorena Lira Barragán

She was a very cheerful girl; she had been selected to be the face of a major telephone brand. She had many friends and a head full of dreams.

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I didn't get to meet her.

Rose petal artwork - Samina

Samina

My beloved mother who was a symbol of Love. 

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Whenever we saw a Rose, we feel like fresh air, happiness, and hope. When a child born it means that God is still hopeful from all of us.

Rose petal artwork - Sarah Cardinal

Sarah Cardinal

Unsolved Murder. Never got to meet my kohkom (grandmother).

Rose petal artwork - Shannon Madill

Shannon Madill

Shannon Madill was born on July 9, 1989 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada as Shannon Heather Madill. She was an actress, known for “My Life Is a Musical” (2013). She died on November 27, 2014 in Calgary.

Rose petal artwork - Unknown
Unknown

A rose dedicated to all souls that remain unknown, patiently waiting to be reunited with their loved ones.

 

Even though we don’t know their names, we remember and honour them. 

Additional Information and Acknowledgements

Project motivation: A Rose for Remembrance is a project born from the need to heal collective wounds caused by gender violence, and the negligence of the authorities that hinder the resolution of these cases of femicide. It also seeks to create community between families in Mexico and Canada. 

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Mentorship: The project was guided by Traditional Knowledge Keeper Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. She is an activist and spokesperson who advocates for justice for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S).

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Land acknowledgements: In the spirit of reconciliation, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Stoney Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation Region 3, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

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Funding: This project was funded by Calgary Arts Development, in collaboration with the City of Calgary.

Links and Resources

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger call 911.​

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Canada:

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Alberta:

 

Mexico:

55 56749695
55 52436432

  • Lada nacional gratuita:

800 822 4460

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