"Her Marigold Heart" is a featured piece in my ongoing series, "Where Memories Softly Fall," an exploration of loss, memory, and the enduring connection between life and death.

This image functions as a visual ofrenda to my deceased sister, the artist Cheryl Renee Long. The piece depicts a figure holding a vibrant bouquet of marigolds (cempasúchil)—the traditional flowers of the Day of the Dead celebration—which symbolically cover her body as they would her grave.

Through the warm, textured palette and the vibrant symbolism of the marigolds, I explore the joy and life that remain in memory, acknowledging the belief that our loved ones continue to be present in our lives. The work embodies the theme of enduring presence, representing a connection that is "Closer than breathing and nearer than hands and feet," and serves as a poignant reminder that love transcends the physical barrier of death.