Poles, paving blocks and the proposed garden will become the infrastructure from which other kids can create their own art in Lydia Valdez's Memorial Garden at the Little Harbour School in Portsmouth, N.H.
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Recently, I was asked by an architect friend to design a memorial at the Little Harbor School in Portsmouth, N.H. for 9-year old cancer victim, Lydia Valdez, whom I had never met. I have a penchant for accepting meaningful pro bono work, and the fact that I have a 7-year old daughter and love to design playgrounds made the decision easy.

Valdez's school is blessed by its juxtaposition to the tidal water of the Little Harbor. Presently, the school grounds are completely fenced off from the water and the dock.

Given that Lydia was buried in the cemetery just across the water, the parents had stated that they wished to have a visual connection between the school grounds and the cemetery. Establishing a visual link across the water was the first clue to a proper response, but I needed to understand Lydia. To do this I requested access to her art work, which she had done in earnest in her last months.

Her parents provided me with their personal pictures of Lydia, healthy and smiling, and photos near the end of her life as well. Images of her drawings were all I needed. She had a strong sense for abstract expression and the images I chose resonated with me viscerally.

I was lucky that she drew a big mouth, because after seeing photos of her smile I knew I had to capture that, which her drawing did. I also selected her drawing of an eye, later learning that one eye failed early.

A 9-year old cancer victim, Lydia Valdez, had a strong sense for abstract expression. The landscape architect viewed her artwork. She drew a big mouth and had another drawing of an eye. These were selected because they captured her smile and because one of Lydia's eyes failed early. The pair was placed on a pole as a whirligig.

Concept Sketch
This project may be about honoring Lydia's short life, her connection within the community and her vitality to the end. But it also has to be embraced by the kids in the school to be a successful living memorial.

The act of kids creating prayer flags, painting poles and paving blocks, becomes the vehicle to engage kids in and extend the site-art experience.

This design also becomes a threshold to the dock from a building entrance and will frame the view towards Lydia's grave site while creating a vertical element to then be viewed while standing near her grave.