Tiny Paintings for Big Hearts is an installation of 1,000 paintings inspired by the legendary story of Sadako Sasaki. A Japanese child who at age 11 set out to fulfill the Japanese legend of folding 1,000 origami cranes as a wish for recovery from leukemia, the result of radiation poisoning from the Hiroshima bomb. Sadako’s story inspired Nicole to paint 1,000 abstract paintings as her wish for pandemic recovery which she is sharing with her local community via Elmhurst Hospital in Queens NY. She started the paintings in January of 2021 and completed the 1,000th on August 6, 2021, the 76th Anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. These paintings are dedicated to the staff, nurses, and doctors of Elmhurst Hospital who serve the Queens community despite a global pandemic.

The images of ink on acetate mounted on white card stock and averaging 6”x6” in size evoke the movement of fluids through the human body. When shown together each painting’s fragility floats past the viewer drawing a parallel to relationships with lost loved ones. Our love doesn’t disappear when they pass on it simply transforms. If we are quiet and stand close to the paintings their details rise to the surface. Similarly, if we’re quiet and listen the love felt in life is tangible after death.

This project is made possible by a New York City Artist Corps Grant, Gallim Moving Women Residency a part of Gallim Dance Company, Inc @gallimdanceco, and The Juilliard School Scene Shop Justin Ellie Technical Director. Special thanks goes out to: George Asadooria, Darrell Beasley, Atiya Butler, Cody Chen, Umi Choi, Adrienne Bryant Goodwin, John Heginbotham, MD Hiro, Kevin Lama, Maya Lam, Irma Llorens, Andrea Miller, Navara Novy-Williams, Rachel Nemec, Valerie Olivero, Anna Pasquale-Kavanagh, James Pearce, Anne Posluszny, Rocco Sapone, Stephanie Saywell, Kanji Segawa, Dudley Stewart, Luisang Tamang, Crystal Quevedo, & Andrea Lodico Welshons.

Photos & Video by Olga Rabetskaya