Johanna Kar was an eager young student in her arts classes in Finland, San Carlos, Canada College and community centers on the Peninsula. Johanna's works, in a variety of media, are displayed at the Port of Redwood City and in coffee shops from Redwood City to Palo Alto. One of her acrylic paintings, coordinated with a flower arrangement, won a blue ribbon at the Sequoia Art Group's show in May 1998. Ms. Kar donated thirty of her paintings, to promote the Grammas Corner, a peer counseling organization; the paintings in transit to Finland and Spain. She also is a certified instructor of aquatics at the Redwood City and a certified program coordinator in gerontology.

Thoughts:

This mask design is the "I'm Happy You Came; I'll Miss You" logo. Having worked with the aged at the VA Hospital as a wheelchair exercise program coordinator and at the YMCA as an aquatic exercise instructor, I know how much it means to people to get help from Hospice and to see your smile. Their response is always, "I'm so happy you came" and as you leave, they say, "I'll miss you" -- bringing tears to your own eyes. This mask has a whale and a bird; it symbolizes freedom from whatever confines you and the feathers are wings to help you to fly free. .