Iris Harkavy says the heart on top of Le Bonheur is her beacon. It’s the place that saved her grandchild’s life. It’s the place that gives her hope.

When the new hospital opened in 2010, the Memphis artist created a magical space-themed piece of art in the 10th floor lobby. As she worked on the piece, patients would stop by to watch. Harkavy says she was delighted by the interactions with the children and enamored with the miracles happening each day at the hospital.

Harkavy wanted to do more. She asked the hospital if she could donate a series of 16 paintings about love that could be sponsored by donors. Harkavy says it was a magical year creating the series. “Ideas just poured,” she said. Each piece is a nod to hope.

“It’s a wish list if we could have a perfect city, a perfect world, Harkavy said. “We forget we are our brother’s keeper, but Le Bonheur hasn’t forgotten that.”

The collection hangs in the hospital’s Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit now. The funds raised through sponsorship planted the first seeds of the Le Bonheur Green.

“These paintings are prayers and visions that I feel might lead us to better tomorrows for our world based on harmony and love,” she said. “The huge heart that rises above Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital stands as an inspiration to us all. They are healers calling us all to be healers.”