Public art, public and memorial gardens, and urban beautification come together in Lewiston-Auburn’s 🤟🏽(I LOVE YOU) Gardens

built for LA and the greater community throughout the state in memory of the mass shootings on October 25, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. 

About

On October 25th, 2023, eighteen people were murdered and thirteen injured at Schemengees Bar & Grille and Just-In-Time Recreation in Lewiston Maine. More than 100 people were present at the two locations that evening. Members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community were taking part in a cornhole tournament at Schemengees; four had their lives taken. The gardens’ name includes the ASL sign for I love you – the symbol used to unify our shaken state since the first vigil after the shootings.

The 🤟🏽 Gardens were started by artist Tanja Hollander for the 2nd year commemoration of the shootings. The gardens are an extension of Hollander’s memorial work, Mourning Flowers, an art project that brings awareness to the ripple effects of trauma and fear that move through communities after acts of violence.

In October 2025, almost fifty volunteers planted 1,500 bulbs and more than 100 pollinator-friendly plants in proposed garden sites throughout the community, testing and designing the collaborative process that will sustain these gardens.

Volunteer

By volunteering with the 🤟🏽 gardens, residents can build connections through creativity, environmental stewardship, and community building.

 If you are interested in volunteering, we would love to have you. We are looking for folks to help with:

  • planting / weeding / watering / site clean up

  • marketing / spreading the word / recruiting volunteers + plants

  • organizing community planting days

  • garden design

  • hardscaping

  • ASL interpretation

    and more!

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

Locations

  • Simard-Payne Park Gateway, Lewiston- planted Fall 2025, more planting Spring 2026

  • Bonney Park, Auburn - planted Fall 2025, more planting Spring 2026

  • Oxford + Cross Streets, Lewiston - to plant Spring 2026

  • Maine MILL, Lewiston TBD

  • Ribbon Path through Simard-Payne Park to Simard-Payne Park Gateway, Lewiston TBD

Partnerships

In addition to our volunteers, the success of the gardens depends on partnerships with municipal and civic organizations as well as private businesses, all working together.

Please e-mail Tanja if you would like to become a partner or to donate special skills, supplies, bulbs or plants!