VISIONS OF HOPE
"Visions of Hope created for the 2014 Lily Oncology On Canvas Exhibit - won overall first place"
It was my participation in the Lily Oncology on Canvas Art Exhibits for the past 10 years, and during interviews with Dennis DaSota and Anita Chernewski of TogoRun and the Lilly Oncology on Canvas organization, that inspired me to create "Visions of Hope" Art Exhibit. At that very moment while being in front of the spot light, I realized these monumental events were not about me, but a bigger and more powerful energy beyond me. These beautiful and amazing opportunities were a segue in creating Visions of Hope. It was a realization, I wanted to help facilitate other survivors to share and express their cancer journey, in the hope to inspire others who might be starting their journey or give comfort to someone who is involved with another person's journey.
In July, 2014, I interviewed my first participant, I was not sure how to even begin, but somehow the string of words just started to flow. As I interviewed each participant their need to share overflowed. The emotional trauma infiltrated their lives and others connected to them, there were so many intimate doors opened during our conversation. I believe it is the sense that we are kindred spirits, united by an experience that we had no control of, that has each person sharing so openly with me. I feel the mettle, the tears, the loss, the fight, the empathy and the cry for their survival, but most of all I feel Hope. Each journey resonates to the next, but through the twist and turns, each journey is very uniquely theirs. Upon the interview ending, I feel as if I know that person on such a personal level, my soul feels so humbled and oddly nourished. I am reminded how grateful we all should be, to live each moment as if it is the purpose in life. Each participants thoughts are spoken so others can understand although a cancer journey is tumultuous, somehow one finds a purposeful meaning to why it happened to them.
Each piece of art is a parable of the participants words shared with me. The poignant details are incorporated and woven in the colors that I felt that day during their interview. The aura of their spirited energy, the vibe of each moment, what I perceived and gathered, assisted me in creating their journey. My hope is that each participant sees the translation of their journey in the artwork, and that each person who gazes upon the artwork will feel the inspiration, and leave knowing cancer is a battle fought with HOPE, and won by so many.
The creation of Visions of Hope is constantly evolving. What I originally thought would be a one exhibit event, has multiplied through the support of so many. Our lives intersect and entwine with each other. It is not by chance or coincidental. Humanity thrives on being connected. Everything happens for a reason. Visions of Hope engulfs so much more then my thought process, it is every person who took the time to share. Every life has a purpose and touches another.
November 5, 2015, "Visions of Hope" had its inaugural opening with St. Luke's Cancer Center, Anderson Campus which was open to the public through November 30th. It was a wonderful event. St. Luke's really did an amazing job putting it all together with their media department and the catering of the wine and food. But it was the emotional anticipation of the participants' to see the artwork created by their journeys which was priceless. The night air was a buzz of positive energy flowing all evening. (see photographs by clicking the inaugural tab)
Visions of Hope is scheduled next to be exhibited at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Spring of 2016. The logistics and details are still in progress. Visions of Hope will also be scheduled at other organizations in and outside the Pennsylvania perimeter as well. I will try to update the post on the schedules of where and when.
I am not sure where the life of this exhibit will lead, but as long as there are survivors/patients who would like to share with me, then I will continue creating their stories through art.
In July, 2014, I interviewed my first participant, I was not sure how to even begin, but somehow the string of words just started to flow. As I interviewed each participant their need to share overflowed. The emotional trauma infiltrated their lives and others connected to them, there were so many intimate doors opened during our conversation. I believe it is the sense that we are kindred spirits, united by an experience that we had no control of, that has each person sharing so openly with me. I feel the mettle, the tears, the loss, the fight, the empathy and the cry for their survival, but most of all I feel Hope. Each journey resonates to the next, but through the twist and turns, each journey is very uniquely theirs. Upon the interview ending, I feel as if I know that person on such a personal level, my soul feels so humbled and oddly nourished. I am reminded how grateful we all should be, to live each moment as if it is the purpose in life. Each participants thoughts are spoken so others can understand although a cancer journey is tumultuous, somehow one finds a purposeful meaning to why it happened to them.
Each piece of art is a parable of the participants words shared with me. The poignant details are incorporated and woven in the colors that I felt that day during their interview. The aura of their spirited energy, the vibe of each moment, what I perceived and gathered, assisted me in creating their journey. My hope is that each participant sees the translation of their journey in the artwork, and that each person who gazes upon the artwork will feel the inspiration, and leave knowing cancer is a battle fought with HOPE, and won by so many.
The creation of Visions of Hope is constantly evolving. What I originally thought would be a one exhibit event, has multiplied through the support of so many. Our lives intersect and entwine with each other. It is not by chance or coincidental. Humanity thrives on being connected. Everything happens for a reason. Visions of Hope engulfs so much more then my thought process, it is every person who took the time to share. Every life has a purpose and touches another.
November 5, 2015, "Visions of Hope" had its inaugural opening with St. Luke's Cancer Center, Anderson Campus which was open to the public through November 30th. It was a wonderful event. St. Luke's really did an amazing job putting it all together with their media department and the catering of the wine and food. But it was the emotional anticipation of the participants' to see the artwork created by their journeys which was priceless. The night air was a buzz of positive energy flowing all evening. (see photographs by clicking the inaugural tab)
Visions of Hope is scheduled next to be exhibited at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Spring of 2016. The logistics and details are still in progress. Visions of Hope will also be scheduled at other organizations in and outside the Pennsylvania perimeter as well. I will try to update the post on the schedules of where and when.
I am not sure where the life of this exhibit will lead, but as long as there are survivors/patients who would like to share with me, then I will continue creating their stories through art.