To commemorate the magnanimity of Houstonians’ resilience and altruistic response to Hurricane Harvey, I painted this monumental, human-scale, eight-panel, oil-on-canvas portrait of my fellow volunteers. This group worked together seamlessly accepting donations outside NRG Center the day after Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Baker Ripley CEO Angela Blanchard opened a shelter there to care for people impacted by the storm. They exemplify the whole-hearted spirit that emerged all over the city and carried Houston through those dark, anxious days last September.
At a time when Houston is being recognized as the most diverse place in America, it is important to honor the manner in which our city showed the country and the world what it means to love each other by stepping up without hesitation when it matters most. As Houston continues to recover, I hope this painting can serve as a source of civic pride and a spark for authentic, ongoing conversations on resilience, flood control, diversity, community and altruism.” – artist Sarah Fisher
Sarah Fisher’s large-scale, four panel painting is currently on display through September 28, 2018 in the George R. Brown Convention Center on the Level 2 skybridge to the Hilton Americas-Houston. The painting is also featured on the VisitHouston.com page in the September issue of Texas Monthly, focusing on Houston’s recovery from Hurricane Harvey one year later. Prior to coming to the GRB, the painting was on display at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and NRG Center. She has been posting the journey of the painting on her Instagram page.
