Every pair of hands tells a story. They carry the marks of a life fully lived — the calluses from years of hard work, the softness from holding a child, the strength from overcoming challenges most of us will never know.
This fall, Seaside was honored to host "These Hands," a breathtaking photography project by Sarah Jane Labonte. Through intimate black-and-white portraits of our residents' hands, Sarah captured something truly extraordinary: the quiet, powerful stories that words alone can't tell.
The Stories Behind the Hands
Each photograph was paired with a caption sharing a piece of that resident's history — what their hands had done, where they had been, and the lives they had touched. These hands moved military families' belongings when deployed. These hands built homes. These hands held newborns for the very first time. These hands played music that filled entire rooms with joy.
The result was a gallery that stopped people in their tracks. Families, staff, and community members gathered at Seaside for an evening reception to view the collection, sharing stories, tears, and laughter as they moved from portrait to portrait.
A Celebration of Life
At Seaside, we believe that every resident's story matters. "These Hands" was more than a photography exhibit — it was a celebration of the full, rich lives our residents have lived and continue to live every day. It reminded us all that behind every pair of hands is a lifetime of love, sacrifice, and strength.
“The beauty of this project is that it lets the hands speak for themselves. Every wrinkle, every scar, every gentle curve tells a chapter of someone's life.”
— Sarah Jane Labonte, Photographer
We are deeply grateful to Sarah Jane Labonte for bringing this vision to life and to our residents for sharing their stories with all of us. Projects like these are at the heart of what makes Seaside more than a facility — it's a community that honors the people within it.
