Nikki Seibert, a Charleston gardener, has created a floral dedication to the victims of the Mother Emanuel shooting. The piece remains unnamed but Seibert suggests either Peace Garden or Love takes flight.
“The piece was inspired by the incredible outpouring of love witnessed at the Mother Emanuel AME church in the wake of the tragedy that occurred there. I watched as hundreds of flowers were laid along the white bricks and black iron gates in a show of sympathy, love, and respect. As a gardener the planting, tending, harvesting, and sharing of plants is my own meditation and expression of love and this wall of flowers moved me. My first reaction was the desire to plant a garden in their honor, to give permanent roots to the love that has been shared in our community, yet I know it is still too soon and honestly, probably not my place. Instead, I hoped through this piece, to capture the essence of this beautiful church, its congregation, and the love that radiates from this community in the wake of such an incredible act of violence. My hope is that it brings some small sense of peace, love, and hope to the hearts of those effected. Everything pictured is a leaf, petal, branch, or flower and after enjoying the creation for a day, it was returned back to the earth.” — Nikki Seibert
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