RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — This Mother's Day, a Richmond artist is using flowers to bring attention to the disparities in Black maternal health and raise money for efforts aimed at reducing Black maternal mortality. The one-day installation called "Shrine To Motherhood" features more than 1,000 flow ers arranged into 250 bouquets as a memorial. "We see flowers, of course, as a part of Mother's Day, while simultaneously in a different context flowers are part of mourning and grief for those we've lost," said conceptual artist, Haywood Watkins. The installation honors motherhood, while highlighting the Black maternal health crisis. Haywood Watkins stands near his art installation, 'Shrine To Motherhood'. (Photo: 8News) According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Watkins said learning about those disparities inspired the installation. "Once I dug into a bit more, I realized that it's a social injustice that is completely solvable," he said. He collaborated with floral designer Meredith Wheeler, who said the installation has blossomed into more than just an exhibit. "To have some action behind it, and to hopefully take one step further to reduce that rate… that's the most important thing for me," Wheeler said. Together they're using art to raise awareness and money for Virginia Union University's Doula Certification, a program working to reduce Black maternal mortality. According to the University, the six-month certification is the first to be offered at an HBCU in the state. "We see that if there are, black nurses, black doulas, with black doctors in the space, the statistics decrease," Watkins said. "We want to make sure that people are trained, people are informed, and people have, access to the care that they deserve," Watkins said he hopes people who see the installation leave inspired. "Many people aren't aware of the statistic, but I think the statistic tied with the emotion of the piece, hopefully moves them to action. I don't want just people to be aware. I want them to be a part of the change," he said. ...read more read less