The Forging Resilience Tree

Parky loves to climb trees.  What tree is this, inside the main concourse at the World Parkinson Congress?

It’s an art installation titled “Forging Resilience,” sponsored by the Silver Foundation.  From their website:

Forging Resilience is a project started by The Silver Foundation. Morris and Helen Silver, business and community leaders of Missoula, desired to continue their service to the community through the establishment of their foundation.  Morris had Parkinson’s disease, but Morris and Helen never let Parkinson’s define or constrain how they inspired and impacted their community. Their story of resilience was part of the inspiration for Forging Resilience.

Months ago, the Silver Foundation artists invited people living with Parkinson’s and related diseases, as well as their friends, family members and care givers, to submit short inspirational messages about how they are affected by these illnesses.  The artists then transferred the messages to the metallic leaves of this tree.

Here are some of the individual leaves.

“Helping people smile or get relief from seemingly insurmountable struggles is why we are actually here.  The happiest people are those with the most love in their lives.  Luckily Parkinson’s disease is not contagious, but a smile is.”  Jonathan Lessin, Age 51, USA, Living with Parkinson’s

“Don’t anticipate what might be, but embrace this day with its opportunities and its challenges, knowing that your response will define what comes next for you on your journey.”  Maribeth Johnson, Age 55, USA, Loving Supporter

“a normal teen and doing the things I love.  After being diagnosed, I fell into a deep love for music.  Music doesn’t discriminate.  People of all types and disabilities can make music.”  Natalie Bova, Age 17, USA

“One of the reasons we like to make fun of ourselves might be that PD is a goofy disease in some ways.”  Catherine Armsden, Age 60, USA, Living with Parkinson’s

“My diagnosis was a huge relief.  I had the tools to make myself better.”  Hadley Ferguson, Age 39, USA, Multiple Systems Atrophy