The Art Cure

Great News!

2011-08-15T05:03:00.000-04:00

Unexpected News Flash!!!

I'm very pleased to announce that The Art Cure project will continue! My primary goal with The Art Cure projects is to help others through art and a situation arose which created an opportunity to continue in doing just that.

While the fashion of this year's attempt will change I plan a 2012 version similar to the original concept of The Art Cure as presented here on this blog.

To learn more about The Art Cure 2011 and how you can participate, please view it's official blog and information page on http://www.theartcure11.blogspot.com/

Please pass the info on and enjoy the art!

With gratitude,
Tatiana von Tauber
Founder of The Art Cure projects

Summer 2011 Update

2011-05-24T08:51:00.002-04:00

I'd like to thank everyone involved in The Art Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Art Project. We raised over $2300 for breast cancer awareness and research. While I had hoped to create an abroad version of The Art Cure this year I found that the international move with my family has taken it's toll in terms of time capacity. Settling my family into a level of normalicy takes precedence. However, I am networking and plan to create a 2012 edition of The Art Cure.
For up to date information, please join our Facebook Page and click on the FB icon in the sidebar.

The Art Cure Show Opening Walkthrough

2010-10-25T10:42:00.001-04:00

Watch this great video to see the full show "live". Remember, it ends this Friday, Oct 29th. Cast your bids this week! You still have a few days left.

BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS

2010-10-09T15:52:00.003-04:00

If you wish to make a bid on any art piece below (58 in all), please email theartcure@gmail.com and Tatiana will make the bid online for you.

In the email please state:

1. Artist and corresponding number
2. Title of work
3. Your bid amount
4. Full name and telephone number

Your identity and contact information will only be disclosed to Tatiana von Tauber and assistants. It will not be disclosed publically. You may leave a general comment to any artist but when bidding, please email theartcure@gmail.com. If a new bid overrides yours, I will contact you so you can decide if you'd like to re-bid.

Thank you for your cooperation and support! Remember, all bids proceeds go straight to the Young Survival Coaltion Savannah and Susan. G. Komen Coastal Georgia Affiliate with 50% going to each organization.

Artist: Matthew Rose (55)

2010-10-01T13:59:00.008-04:00

Contributing artist, Paris France

"Me You"
14 and 3/4 by 18 and 3/4 inches (378mm x 478mm)
Handpulled three color silkscreen print
dated and numbered 111/XX
Artist Proof

Matthew Rose

Sold

Artist: Kris Sperring (54)

2010-10-01T13:26:00.004-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Lady & Sons"
12" x 15"
Acrylic on Acetate

Kris Sperring

sold

Artist: William Kwamena-Poh (53)

2010-10-01T13:19:00.007-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Respite"
29" x25"
Giclee

William Kwamena-Poh

Artist & Survivor: Jackie Heinz-2 (52)

2010-10-01T13:07:00.005-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Daisy"
4" x 4"
hand painted tile, framed

"Iris"
4" x 4"
hand painted tile, framed

Artist: Phyllis Lang (51)

2010-10-01T13:03:00.003-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Bosom Buddy"
Silver, Bronz & Ink Broach
size TBA

Phillis Lang

Artist: Brian MacGregor (50)

2010-10-01T12:58:00.003-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Maori Reunion"
23.5" x 19"
Oil on board

Brian MacGregor

Artist: Carrie Christian (49)

2010-10-01T12:56:00.003-04:00

Contributing Artist, Savannah GA]

"Tiny's Bedroom"
39" x 32"
original watercolor

Carrie Christian

Artist: Marlene Seidman (48)

2010-09-29T08:48:00.003-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Looking Over Her Shoulder"
Digital Ink Jet
16" x 20" framed

Marlene Seidman holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, NY and received a Master of Education degree from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Many of Marlene’s projects involve historical process and digital photographs, sound, video, and book forms. She creates mixed-media pieces as inquiries and artifacts of social and ethnic customs based on contemporary research and her personal history. Her installations, books, and photographs have been exhibited throughout the US and internationally. She is the granddaughter of Eleanor Seidman who lost her battle with breast cancer.

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Artist: Jack Wegenar (47)

2010-09-29T08:47:00.010-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Ultimately"
8" x 10"
Silver gelatin, hand printed photograph

Jack Wegenar

I am a professional photographer specializing in artistic nude photography. Since 1975 I have produced gelatin-silver photographs for art galleries and collectors in addition to accepting private commissions from clients who wish to obtain prints of themselves but who do not want the images ever displayed or sold publicly. Photography of the nude is not the only photography I do but it is what I am best known for and what I have devoted most of my professional life to creating. I am based in Savannah, Georgia (USA).
*Represented by Horizon Gallery.

Sold

Artist: Amy Hillenbrand (46)

2010-09-29T08:47:00.009-04:00

Contributing artist, Austin TX

"Sole Sister"
8" x 10"
Oil on canvas

Amy Hillenbrand
Artist Statement

I am awed and inspired by the works of art all around us, that in this fast paced world, we may forget that a designer, a craftsman, or artist has lovingly poured their heart and soul into each and every detail of their craft. My intention is that by the restfulness of the backgrounds and the gentle palettes the viewer will be transported to the miraculous silent calm where the spark of inspiration is ignited.

Biography

Amy Hillenbrand was born in Racine, Wisconsin and lived in several different states before landing in her current home town of Austin, TX. She received a B. S. from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She began her career in the creative world as an Interior Designer. She owned her own successful commercial interior design and architectural firm for fifteen years. Prior to her current art career, she was a successful life coach utilizing various healing art modalities in her practice.

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Artist: Dana Ellyn (45)

2010-09-29T08:46:00.009-04:00

Contributing artist, Washington DC

"Pledge"
9" x 12"
Pen and Ink on paper

Dana Ellyn

Dana Ellyn is a DC resident and full-time painter who lives and paints in her studio in a subsidized artist housing unit in downtown Washington DC. Ellyn committed herself to full-time status in 2002 when she decided to leave her corporate job and pursue painting. Her work is exemplified by a risk-taking vision, strong content, and colorful critiques of social norms.

Ellyn's style sits on the fence between social realism and expressionism. Having spent her childhood and college years honing her skills and striving to be technically correct, during the past 8 years she has tasked herself with unlearning those restrictive habits. Ellyn strives to infuse more emotion and meaning in to each new painting she creates.

Ellyn's paintings have stories to tell and opinions to profess. She delivers hard slaps to myths of all kinds - from religion, to politics to what it means to be a woman. Ellyn's goal is to employ humor when holding a subject up to her artistic scrutiny. But, humor is as subjective as art and Ellyn's brand of humor has tended to be a polarizing factor in her art. Love it or hate it, she definitely starts a dialogue.

From childhood until about the age of 30, Ellyn was quiet and reserved. She has now found her voice and she s making up for lost time.

Artist: Maxine Hess (43)

2010-09-29T08:46:00.008-04:00

Contributing artist, Atlanta GA

"Breaking The Surface 1"
Mixed Media
12.5" x 14.5 "

Maxine Hess

Artist: Cyndy Carstens (44)

2010-09-29T08:45:00.006-04:00

Contributing artist, Glendale AZ

"Sweeping Color"
Oil
5" x 5" matted and framed to 10" x 10"

Born in Minnesota, Cyndy Carstens currently lives and works in Phoenix, AZ. She won her first art competition at 6 years old – a summer scholarship at the Minnesota Art Institute.

An intense desire for pursuing a life in the arts ensued. Working in a range of mediums including oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media, her work has won a number of awards and is among numerous private and corporate collections in North America. 15% of all of Carstens’ art sales are donated to charity.

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Artist: Nancy Lorenz (42)

2010-09-29T08:44:00.006-04:00

Contributing artist, New York NY

Untitled
5"x7"
Mother of Pearl and blackened silver leaf

Nancy Lorenz

The paintings of Nancy Lorenz juxtapose luxurious materials and a reverence for fine craft with the looser gestures of abstract expressionism. A kind of reinterpreted Japanese aestheticism is often fused with incidental marks and unrestrained brushwork. Having lived in Tokyo for five years, the artist has admired and incorporated the idea that decorative materials, such as mother of pearl inlay, lacquer, and gold leaf, can be used in a painterly, sublime way.

After living in Japan, Nancy Lorenz earned a BFA in Painting and Printmaking. In 1988 she received her MFA in Painting from the Tyler School of Art, studying in Philadelphia and Rome.

Lorenz received a John Simon Guggenheim award in 1998, and participated in the Cill Rialaig artist in residence program in Ireland in 2008 and 2010. She lives and works in New York City, with her husband and two children.

Sold

Artist: Luc Ebner (41)

2010-09-29T08:42:00.005-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA
Co-owner of Horizon Gallery

"Pinkish"
Oil on glass
12" x 15" matted and framed

Luc Ebner

Sold

Artist: Michael S. Troop (40)

2010-09-27T23:53:00.005-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"The Caress"
3" x 5" matted to 8" x 10", framed
Photograph

Fine Art Photographer, Michael S. Troop

Artist: Michele Snell (39)

2010-09-27T23:52:00.005-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA
Horizon Gallery co-owner

"Path of Oak"
11" x 14"
giclee (on canvas)

Michele Snell

Sold

Artist: Zo Haynes (38)

2010-09-27T23:51:00.004-04:00

Contributing Artist, name & location not stated

Untitled
Photocopy of painted hand, framed
8" x 10"

Artist: Margaret Brennan (37)

2010-09-27T23:50:00.004-04:00

Contributing artist, Savanna GA

Untitled
18" x 24"
Photograph matted and framed

Margaret Brennen

Local photographer Margaret Brennan exhibits a wide range of material inspired by life along the Georgia Coast…familiar sights like ‘Tybee Island Pier’ achieve an other worldly elegance in Brennan’s hands as she emphasizes the color, contrast and geometry of architectural marvels…Brennan who is best known for her floral photography creates intimate portraits of flowers, captured in extreme close-up as they unfurl their plush petals… ,”Allison Hersh, art critic for The Savannah Morning News.

Sold

Artist: Diana Donoslovic (36)

2010-09-27T23:49:00.004-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Hope"
11" x 14"
Digitally enhanced photograph, framed

Diana Donoslovic

I was born in Subotica, Serbia and moved to the US at the age of 8. After playing Division 1 tennis for Southeast Missouri State University, I transferred to SCAD, where I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Performing Arts. Art is something that I have always enjoyed immensely and something I believe makes life better every time it is seen, no matter the type or medium or place seen. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be able to contribute my art for such a worthy and very important cause. Hopefully with our combined efforts will be able to make a difference and yield results!

Artist: Kerry Harried (35)

2010-09-27T23:46:00.004-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Butterfly in Pink"
Orginal Gouache
miniature matted & framed to 8" x 10"

Kerry Harried

Artist: Dennis Roth (34)

2010-09-27T23:45:00.004-04:00

A Horizon Gallery contributing artist , Savannah GA

"Deep Creek"
16" x 20"
Limited serie print 7/25

Dennis Roth

I love watercolor paintings. And, I love painting in watercolor. As you can see from my works [...] my style is fluid and free.

Artist: Lance Novak (33)

2010-09-27T23:42:00.003-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Swimming"
8" x 10"
Acrylic on canvas

Sold

Artist: Mike Ring (32)

2010-09-27T23:41:00.005-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"Angel Oak"
20" x 30"
Photograph on canvas

Mike Ring

Mike’s photographic vision is always evolving as he explores the cities and small communities of our great country. He finds himself drawn to subjects that have an historical aspect to them.

Mike is on a journey to discover and learn about these places that he is photographing. He has really come to appreciate the incredible craftsmanship and detail in the historical homes and places that he has visited. To him, they are works of art and an inspiration that he wants to share with others.

Sold

Update: Have You Watched the Press?

2010-09-23T13:15:00.000-04:00

If you haven't already, be sure to watch my interview on Talking Real where I discuss The Art Cure show and auction and get a better sense of why we're all so excited. The opening is next Friday!

http://theartcure.blogspot.com/2010/09/update-press-book-info.html

Survivor-in-the-making: Patra Rickman (31)

2010-09-20T22:35:00.005-04:00

Painted during TAC third painting session with her daughter / 2 works contributed

"Colorful World"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Sold

"Circles"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Patra's Story:

I am recently (just last month) diagnosed with breast cancer have just started chemo and am still coming to terms with it. I know everything will end fine in part because I come from a family of strong women a with many breast cancer survivors, including my mother so I know everything is going to end well. My 7-year old daughter, Maia, is inspiring me and helping me along this new path in my life with her laughter and constant reminders of all the joys in life, big and small.

Survivor: Donna F. Watson (30)

2010-09-20T21:33:00.002-04:00

Painted during TAC third painting session

"With Love"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Donna's Story:

My Story – My Victory / Diagnosed October 24, 2008

My name is Donna Watson and I am a breast cancer survivor.

In May 2008, upon returning from Los Angeles after spending a few months taking care of my aunt before her passing, I noticed I had begun to experience tenderness in my left breast. That tenderness turned into a very noticeable pain. My first thought was that maybe I had pulled a muscle in my chest while caring for my aunt, or maybe I hurt myself somehow and just didn’t remember how. Or maybe I had drank too much coffee, although I only drank decaffeinated. I had never had pain in my breast in the past. My oldest sister, Sandra, had been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in May 2007, so I was even more aware of changes in my breast what was normal for me.

It didn’t take long for my breast to begin to hurt to the point that I couldn’t stand to sleep without wearing a bra and it hurt pretty bad to take my bra off. Just turning from side to side would hurt and now my right breast had begun to have some tenderness.

I called my insurance provider and explained what I was feeling and asked the representative if it were okay if I got my annual mammogram earlier than my scheduled date. She said, it would be okay and that it didn’t matter which month I got it in the calendar year. Normally, I was scheduled to have my annual around the end of October to mid-November. After speaking with the insurance representative, I called my doctor and asked to be seen for my problem. My doctor was out of the office for a few days, but I agreed to be seen by his nurse practitioner, who examined both of my breasts. She examined my right breast first and to my surprise, it hurt me very bad and I could hardly lie still on the table. I had never had a painful breast exam before. While examining my right breast, she said she could feel a little something that concerned her. I told her that the left breast was the one that prompted me to call and ask to be checked. She continued to check it and said again that she could feel a little something there. Then, she examined my left breast. The left breast exam didn’t hurt as bad as the right breast did. She said, the left breast felt normal, but she would order a mammogram and ultrasound for both breast.

Every year, after my pap was done, my OBGYN scheduled my mammogram to be done at St. Joseph’s Imaging Center in Savannah, Georgia.

Anyway, on June 26, 2008, my wedding anniversary, I got the mammogram and ultrasound. The ultrasound did not reveal anything, and the mammogram technician said I shouldn’t worry about anything. However, when the radiologist viewed my film, he asked her to call me back to repeat two of the views. I got the message when I got home in Hinesville. I returned her call and returned the following morning around 10am.

The results were sent to my doctor’s office and I was asked to come in. When I went in the nurse told me that I had an abnormal result on my right breast and the doctor was referring me to a specialist and ordering a biopsy.

In mid-July, I had my first visit at the JC Lewis Cancer Pavilion in Savannah, Georgia. I took my film with me for the doctor to review. My girlfriend, Grace, went to the appointment with me for support.

I was examined and given an appointment to have a stereotactic biopsy at the Mary Telfair Pavilion at Candler Hospital. Lying on my stomach with my right breast hanging through a hole in the table, the nurse compressed my breast several times in search of the abnormal area. After several failed attempts to find the area by imaging, and getting me up and making additional mammogram film, then back to the hole in the table, the technician called the radiologist in to see if he could see anything.

The radiologist released me from the table’s grip and helped me sit up. He explained to me that because they were unable to find the area, he did not want to try to do the biopsy and take a chance on missing it and giving me a report with a false negative. He explained that if that happened, I could walk around with cancer with the belief that I was okay. He sent a report to my referring doctor at Lewis.

On my follow-up with the Lewis doctor, the doctor decided to recheck me in three months, which was in October of 2008.

In the meantime, the only other person I had spoken with about my situation and doctor visits was my daughter, Candace. I didn’t want to cause any alarm in my family, because a month and a half after my sister was diagnosed, her husband was diagnosed with stage 2b pancreatic cancer in July 2007; in November 2007, my mother’s other sister was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer and passed in December 2007; then in January 2008, my sister’s older son was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 27. On April 30, 2008, my aunt in California died as I held her hand, and on October 11, 2008, my sister’s husband passed from pancreatic cancer. With so much going on in our family, I did not wish to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Our family had not had any cancer diagnoses since I was four years old and my grandfather [mother’s father] passed from brain cancer.

For about two weeks in October, I had been noticing that my right breast felt like it was getting heavier and that I could feel a hard ball of a sort pressing against the inner part of my right arm. I could feel it with my fingers and pressing on my arm when I lay on my back. I tried to convince myself that it was there all along or that maybe it was just fibrocystic breast tissue. My husband and I traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to attend my brother-in-law’s funeral and returned to Georgia on the 19th of October.

The next day, I stood in the mirror to shave under my arms. When I raised my arm, there it was, protruding out like a big lemon and I could see where it caused the skin to appear creased around the edges of the knot. I felt it and put my arm down and looked at it in a front view. Yes, it was there without a doubt. I was only a few more days out from my three month appointment, so I thought I would just wait and be seen then. The next day, while on my way to Savannah, I called my girlfriend and told her what I had discovered the day before. She immediately told me to hang up the phone and call the doctor’s office and tell them that I found it and needed to be seen. I did and the nurse told me to come to them right then and that she would pull my chart and get me into a room as soon as I arrived. There was only about 45 minutes left before they were to close for the evening.

I arrived, was put into an exam room, and was given the PINK paper vest to put on. The doctor came in and greeted me. She stood in front of me and looked and said she didn’t see anything different. Then she asked me to hold my arms up over my head. She looked and asked me to turn so she could see the side of my right breast.

She couldn’t believe it. There it was sticking out. She said, “Where did that come from?! That wasn’t there three months ago! You have a big nodule there.” She asked me to lay back and she examined it with her hands. She was so surprised. She said it was there alright and that she didn’t understand how it could grow that large so fast. She said since we can see it, she didn’t need to do another mammogram to find it. She asked me to walk across the hall to another room where she would do an ultrasound. She called a nurse in who began to do the ultrasound. I laid there and watched the screen as she measured this big area on the screen. The doctor said since we see it, feel it, and know exactly where it is, she would go ahead and do a biopsy right then. It seemed like so much was happening so fast. I was handed a clipboard, I signed the papers to have the biopsy, and before I had time to really think about what was about to happen, my breast was washed, instruments were laid out, and a big needle was quickly inserted into the area to numb it before doing the biopsy. Six tissue samples were taken that day. I was bandaged up, given another appointment, and sent on my way. This time, I didn’t ask Grace to meet me there because she was at work earlier when we spoke on the phone. She told me that she would have come if only I had called her.

My follow-up appointment for the biopsy results was the afternoon of October 24, 2008. The news I would get that day would change the rest of my life. It seemed like I waited forever for the doctor to come into the exam room.

Around 4:45 p.m., the doctor came in with chart in hand. She spoke and asked how I was doing. She placed the chart on the counter and looked at me and said, “We have a breast cancer and we have to decide on the best way to treat it.” She told me that she had taken six tissue samples and cancer was in all of them.

She said it was invasive Lobular carcinoma of the breast, infiltrating. She explained the surgery options to me and said that some cancers are removed by lumpectomy and some are removed by mastectomy. She said that I would probably require a radical mastectomy. That day, I was introduced to my oncology nurse navigator, Krista, who came in and spoke with me so compassionately. She gave me the green expandable folder containing all the literature along with her contact information. Krista was with me for nearly every test and surgery after that day. I was scheduled to have an MRI a few days later. So much happened so fast. Grace was there for my results. Next, I was scheduled to have a sentinel node biopsy and was scheduled to have a radical mastectomy on Thursday, November 6, 2008. Just as I was there for my sister and her husband, my sister was here with me for support along with my husband, daughter, and of course, my dear friend, Grace. Later, the decision was made to place a port in my chest and to treat me with 8 rounds of chemotherapy. When I met my oncology doctor for the first time, he asked me how did I know and how did I discover there was a problem. He told me that the pathology tests revealed that there were three tumors in my breast and that I was stage 1. During my treatments, I experienced a low white blood cell count, which caused me to become very ill and I was hospitalized for one week in February 2009. My last chemotherapy treatment was May 20, 2009. During my treatments, I also went to occupational therapy at Candler to get me right arm moving again. On August 20, 2009, I underwent a Tram Flap reconstruction and in December. On November 5, 2009, I underwent a left breast reduction. On January 28, 2010, my port was removed from my chest. Finally, on March 18, 2010, modifications were done to my reconstructed breast and abdominal scar.

I must say that I am blessed to share my story with you. People say that I don’t look like I’ve been sick a day in my life. When asked how I’m doing, I like to reply that I am GRATEFUL.

I currently am cancer-free and I now see my doctors every four months. My sister and her son are both now cancer-free and doing very well.

I praise God for revealing that there was a problem with my breast so that I could be taken care of by such gifted and wonderful doctors.

Survivor: Eufemia M. Gabinoza-Gamba (29)

2010-09-20T21:32:00.002-04:00

Painted during TAC third painting session

"The Plight of Cancer Patients"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Eufemia's Story:

Title of Painting: “The Plight of Cancer Patients “(This is only my opinion as a cancer patient. The course of the river is to find the sea no matter how difficult the way may be. Along the way, breakthroughs in technology, support groups, and a whole lot of good-hearted people, makes it possible for a cancer patient to survive. )

I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in February, 2009 and had double mastectomy the following month. I was so scared for I was told after the surgery, I would need chemotherapy. I dreaded chemotherapy based on what I read about its side effects. I am thousands of miles away from home and I just felt it would be too hard for me to do everything by myself. Miraculously, after the surgery, my doctors decided I would not need any chemotherapy or radiation. I was grateful at first but soon after, I began to have doubts about my decision since the cancer I had, was found to be non-invasive contrary to the initial finding. I was consumed with guilt feelings. I found solace in attending Yoga classes for cancer survivors and joining support groups. It was a relief knowing I am not alone in this plight and there are people who really understand what I am undergoing. I have indeed found a new “family” among these support groups. Without them, I don’t know what could have happened to me.

Daughter of Survivor: Catherine Mulligan (28)

2010-09-20T21:00:00.002-04:00

Painted during TAC third painting session

"Amazing Grace"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Catherine Mulligan – Daughter of Survivor

“How you climb up the mountain is just as important as how you climb down the mountain. And so it is with life, which for many of us becomes one big gigantic test followed by one big gigantic lesson. In the end it all comes down to one word. Grace. It’s how you accept winning and losing, the good luck and the bad luck, the darkness and the light.”

“I’m climbing up my mountain”, my mom whispered quietly. She was fresh off the surgery table after a double mastectomy and lying down in the post surgery room. We brushed this goofy comment off our shoulders, assuming that she was just too drugged up to make any sense. Truth is - my mom was making a ton of sense. She was referring to the quote above.

My mother’s mountain was steep. It happened fast. It consisted of a double mastectomy, and rigorous sixteen week chemotherapy treatment. She made the climb look like a cake walk though. She handled it with grace. She graced winning, losing, good luck, bad luck, darkness, and light. She did it all. Gracefully, she would never know that though. She doesn’t know how gorgeous her head was, bald and shiny. She doesn’t know how much I admired her strength when she was lying in bed sick. She’ll never know how unbelievably graceful she is, because it is impossible for her to realize this. She is so humble.

She has taught me to face every mountain with positivity, confidence, humor, and grace. I know that anything is possible. An obstacle is a chance to become stronger, and then to help others become stronger. You have to be proactive against this mountain, and when you’re on top to scream and shout and get your message out. This is my mother, the mountain climber, and she is my amazing grace.

Survivor: Mary Ellen Mulligan (27)

2010-09-20T20:59:00.002-04:00

Painted during TAC third painting session

"With All My Hearts"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Mary Ellen's Story:

Following a routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 51 on Christmas Eve of 2009. With a family history of breast cancer, I always knew I had a stronger chance of developing the disease. I chose aggressive treatment including a double mastectomy and sixteen plus weeks of chemotherapy.

Although the breast cancer journey was certainly not one that I would have volunteered to take, I can wholeheartedly say I am a better person today as a result. I have a greater appreciation for life and a sincere love for the many wonderful people who supported me then and continue to support me today.

Throughout the initial diagnosis, the surgery and the chemotherapy treatments, the overwhelming support of others is what ultimately gave me the strength to get through the toughest days. Each one brought something special to assist in my healing.

“With All My Hearts” symbolizes the nine various groups who contributed to my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness throughout the journey. A heartfelt thank you to my family, friends, colleagues and teachers, students, yoga and exercise instructors, medical team, church and prayer groups, breast cancer sisters, and new friends, all of whom I couldn’t have survived without. I love you all.

Survivor: Jackie Heinz (26)

2010-09-18T15:36:00.006-04:00

"And the Greatest Gift is Love"
16" x 20"
Acrylic

Jackie's Story:

Two months after my second son Jack was born, I found a lump in my right breast. Three months and five doctors later, I sat in a chair with my then 5 month old son in my lap and heard a doctor tell me I had breast cancer. He went on to tell me the cancer was extremely aggressive and I would need to have a mastectomy to have any chance at survival. My first thought was, this has to be a mistake. I’m only 32 and there’s no history of breast cancer in my family. Then, of course, I had to ask the question we all ask, what are my chances for survival and how long do I have. Big mistake, why do we do this to ourselves?

His answer was, if I was lucky I might see Jack have his first birthday. With the mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation I might be able to buy myself a year or two at best. Again, I’m thinking this has got to be some big mistake. I’ve hardly ever been sick my whole life. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink (well, not much) and I feel great. Eventually, the news sunk in and I realized there was no big mistake. I had breast cancer. The next day I checked into the hospital and by the afternoon I woke up minus my right breast; 14 days later I started chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy.

During this time I was sent to classes that were meant to help me deal with the idea I didn’t have long left in this world. I was given guidance on how to get my affairs in order and how to tell my children and loved ones good-bye. Two weeks into this nonsense I stood up, gave my best wishes and prayers to the others in the room and told them this was not working for me. I didn’t need to learn how to die; I needed to learn how to live. It was the best decision I ever made.

It didn’t make the doctor or the therapist very happy, they thought I was crazy and in denial, that what I did was very unhealthy. Long story short, deciding to live and not waiting to die was the best thing I could’ve done for myself. I now tell every new patient never give up hope. The will to live is in all of us and it is a powerful thing if you let it loose. My diagnosis of 1 to 2 years has turned into 20. I know not everyone can survive this terrible disease, I have watches several lovely women lose their battle with breast cancer but I saw them bravely fight and live their lives till the end. Each will be missed but their love and courage will live on in our hearts.

My prayer is that someday no one will ever have to hear that dreaded diagnosis but until then I hope for those that do, they’ll know they can take control and don’t have to sit passively by. I wish for all the strength, courage and hope to live.

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Survivor: Susan Richardson (25)

2010-09-18T15:25:00.004-04:00

Painted during TAC third session

"One in 8"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Susan Richardson Age 66

After having my yearly mammogram for 22 years and treating it as a "routine" process, I received the call "we need you to come back in" I had just moved to Savannah to live near my son and his family and did not have doctors established in Savannah. I prayed about the approach I should take. Should I have the follow up mammogram in Savannah or in Florida where the "suspicious" mammogram was performed? My journey began and my faith played an important part in my choices.

I was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive lobular breast cancer. I had a mastectomy and have been cancer free for 4 years this October. I decided to have my surgery in Savannah. I had a wonderful team of doctors that saved my life and I will forever be grateful. Family and friends were my cheerleaders and they continue to help me as I continue my journey as a "survivor".

I am "living my life like a song" .

"Cause I'm living on things that excite me,

I'm just trying to get by being quiet and shy,

"Quietly, quietly, quietly making noise" -JB

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Artist: Roseann Caputo (24)

2010-09-17T20:24:00.005-04:00

Contributing artist, Massachusetts

"Blessings"
digital media
16" x 10"

Roseann Caputo

Artist Statement

My art comes from music and dreams. It comes from the state of mind or the state of emotion. It comes from my imagination. It comes from my spirit. It comes from deep inside my soul. My illustrative works bring to life fantasy and science fiction. Abstract works show the chaos of the mind and the emotion with 3d expressionism. Others show the wild ride through the world of fractals. My photography brings to life nature in the form of landscapes and animals. Sometimes the camera captures the majesty of architecture.

Artist Bio

Roseann Caputo was born in New England where she’s lived most of her life. She also spent a number of years in the Bronx, NY. Fascinated at an early age visually, sticks and dirt were often her mediums. If there was pencil and paper, she was either doodling or scribbling. Fast forward to present day and she’s pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, with a focus in illustration. The Art Cure is her first show.

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Artist: Pamela Goldberg (23)

2010-09-17T20:03:00.002-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah, GA
"Fire in the Belly"
14" x 18" matted
Limited print

Pamela Goldberg

Painting or the process of making images is a journey toward wholeness, a practice for understanding and celebrating life. It is an act of healing for my self and the viewer, whose engagement with the artwork continues the life and vitality of that artwork. Painting as healing is a strong motivation in my work. The awe inherent in nature and personal/archetypal images that surface through meditation, combined with the healing power of color is my vehicle. It is my belief and my hope that by distilling the imagery and the healing powers of color through their own being, the viewer’s soul is sparked and nurtured with inspiration and the joyful recognition of the interconnectedness of all. Thus viewing art is not a passive act but a truly dynamic healing process.

The original imagery came to me during meditation. The images evolved during the process of creating the paintings. Spirituality being rooted in our interconnectedness with the earth, with the universe, and the idea of spirit evolving is expressed in my work. The elements of life: gestation, birth, growth, death, and the changing seasons are significant in my paintings, as they are symbolic of spiritual growth and the importance in recognizing and embracing the truth that we can not have dominion over that which we are an integral part.

Artist: Tatiana von Tauber (22)

2010-09-17T19:48:00.004-04:00

Contribution by Tatiana von Tauber, Founder of The Art Cure

"Self-Radiation"
11" x 17"
Digital original print
limited ed.

Tatiana von Tauber/ Bio

I don't know what it's like to have cancer of the body but I also do not believe suffering discriminates. In other words, to suffer is to suffer and equal value comes to the one who experiences such.

"Self-Radiation" is intended to bring attention to the heart and the waves of self-love energy that transforms.

Mission Statement: Tatiana von Tauber is an internationally published boudoir photographer, feminist writer and multi-skilled artist whose goal is to help women discover their importance and value in society through the power of the arts.

Update: Press & Book info

2010-09-16T20:46:00.006-04:00

Here's my latest interview with Sarahlyn U. Argrow from Savannah's "Talking Real" webcast. Part two will air Wed. the 22nd.

Direct link:
http://savannahnow.com/talking-real-artist-boudoir-photographer-tatiana-von-tauber

Part 2:

Direct Link: http://tinyurl.com/2esjvyv

***
A story about The Art Cure will be appearing in Richmond Hill Reflections Magazine in their next issue. Be sure to look for it (locals) and I'll post to it when it is published.

***
Presenting The Art Cure Diaries, 152 pages of the work and stories you see on this blog by survivors documented as a work of art itself.

Book retails for $49.95. Purchase and view here.

For instant preview click here.

Survivor: Toni Sylvester (21)

2010-09-16T19:59:00.003-04:00

Painted during TAC session three

"Mothers & Daughters"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Toni's Story:

I found a lump, but I was not particularly concerned. Still, I had an ultrasound, which led to a mammogram, which led to biopsy. Then suddenly I had cancer. I had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. So now, a few years later, I am cancer-free.

I am a woman and sometimes even a girl. I am a wife, a sister, a daughter and a friend. I am Auntie to some and Doctor to many. I am "too young for cancer" as I am often told. I am one in eight. My mother is one in eight. I am the daughter of a survivor. I am a survivor.

Survivor: Andrea N. Graham (20)

2010-09-16T19:54:00.003-04:00

Painted during TAC session three

"Teddy GRAHAM"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Andrea's Story:

I found a lump in my left breast while in the shower doing my monthly self-examination. I didn’t stress because 17 months earlier I found a similar lump in my right breast. It was non-cancerous, and I had the lump removed. I made an appointment to have my second lump checked and removed, same ole routine, so I thought. I received a call on Monday August 17, 2009 informing me that I had breast cancer. WOW!!!! I had just moved to the area, had just signed into my unit, the 260th Quartermaster Battalion 3rd Sustainment Brigade based at Hunter Army Airfield. Simply put, I was scared. How do I tell my Commander? Better yet, how do I lead Soldiers? I didn’t want to look sick; and I definitely didn’t want to lose my hair.

On Tuesday, 8 September 2009, I had a lumpectomy and I found out that I had Stage One breast cancer. Moreover, I found out that my lump was 1.2 centimeters. My journey has been a roller coaster, but I never feared death. I have undergone chemotherapy, radiation, and currently Herceptin treatments as well as a 5-year daily dose of Tamoxifen.

I have learned that having hair doesn’t define my beauty; beauty comes from within. Life is a test to see if you can recover from bumps and bruises. Life for me has been a test to pick up the pieces and move forward. I have realized that I am not the same Soldier I used to be; however I am still a Soldier. I have a lot to celebrate; I have been cancer free for 3 months, and for that, I celebrate Life.

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Survivor: Connie Rudd (19)

2010-09-16T19:49:00.002-04:00

Painted during TAC session three

"In The Blink of an Eye"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Connie's Story:

In looking back in time, life’s learning and life’s major events seem to have happened and continue to happen “in the blink of an eye”. The experience and knowledge from each “blink” has been and continues to be far reaching and meaningful in my life.

Beginning with the first awareness as a child and continuing on into the present.

Family, friends, loves of my life, education, professional careers, marriage, motherhood, death of my wonderful Grandmother and others, widowed after twenty-eight years, grieving, finding love again, breast cancer, marriage, becoming a grandparent. Yes, that is the order of things.

May, 2001 begins a new and different chapter in my life. I was a proud parent. I was so in love and engaged to be married. I sold my house of thirteen years. My fiancé and I were buying a new home in which to create new memories.

I discovered a lump in my right breast and, because I have had fibroid cystic disease. I immediately made an appointment with my Gynecologist. There was a referral for a mammogram. There was a whirl of activity and “In the Blink of An Eye” there was the diagnosis of Breast Cancer. My fiancé, my daughters, my best friends gathered at my new home to comfort and support me.

I made justification after justification as to why my life should be “put on hold” until we could see what the near future was to bring. Well, no one was comfortable with that, so, on May 14, 2001, driving down Abercorn Street to check in for my mastectomy, my then fiancé (now husband) started making phone calls to confirm our wedding, wedding reception, and honeymoon.

I need to insert here that I was given the opportunity to participate in a study that was exploring “sentinel node” identification. I believe it is routine now. At the time, it was not. The doctors could see the lymph nodes that needed to be removed . I willingly joined the study. I truly think that this was the point I personally headed in the direction of a much stronger faith and an attitude that there was a lot more living that I needed to do.

Medically, we believed that the cancer was removed. As a precaution, chemotherapy was recommended. Not physically pretty. But my body was strong. Emotionally, it was challenging .There was a second opportunity to involve myself in a study. This one involved using Procrit proactively instead of waiting until the red blood count was so very low.

My Oncologist and her staff were more than wonderful! It was arranged that, along with my wig, clothes, etc, along went a Procrit shot Blood work was done mid-honeymoon, much to the surprise of the medical facility where we stopped. The shot was needed and my new husband was the hero that gave me the injection

I want to stop here with the story of the treatment to tell you, that in the midst of it, some very wonderful things were occurring at the same time. My husband and I purchased a motor boat. Actually, it was bought a week or two before our marriage And, “In The Blink of An Eye” on July 14, 2001, we were married in a small but beautiful ceremony celebrating life and love.

After approximately 12 weeks of chemotherapy, I thought the treatment was over. However, it was determined that 30 treatments of radiation were needed. Every afternoon after work (oh, yes I continued to work), I drove across town for my radiation treatment. During this, guess what? Yep! In “The Blink of An Eye”, my hair was growing.

Now for the best parts: During my recovery my husband bought our first digital camera. He wanted to take photos and make memories to share with my daughters and friends. We are many digital cameras down the road. We have taken thousands of nature photographs and have even sold some! Imagine that! Along the way, we decided to take a trip to the Caribbean. St. Croix, USVI! That is the island where we began our love for scuba diving. My husband has taken those skills to a very high level. Me, not so much. I do have my Advanced Open Water Certification and some Specialties. Nothing like jumping into the water to see the beautiful landscape and living creatures under the sea.

I am thankful for having the opportunity to share my story. My intention is to remind myself how very fortunate I am. To thank my family, friends, and medical staffs for standing by me, loving me, and helping me live life to the fullest. I am also thankful for the chance to tell others that the choices we make in life to be positive have, in my opinion, such a profound effect on the outcomes of our experiences. Also, you can never minimize the effects of humor. I can recall many funny moments to mix in with the very serious moments of breast cancer.

To sum it up: I LOVE LIFE

P.S. The painting is actually taken from a close-up of the eye of a Burrfish taken by my husband in Cozumel, 2010

Survivor: Terri Floyd (18)

2010-09-16T19:41:00.003-04:00

Painted during TAC session three

"Circle of Life"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Survivor: Jenny Sheppard (17)

2010-09-16T19:26:00.002-04:00

Painted during TAC session three

"Hope"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Jenny's Story

Diagnosed May 2006 at age 37

My mom and my aunt had breast cancer, so I started getting mammograms at age 30 because of my increased risk of developing the disease. My mom was 57 and my aunt was 65, so I figured it was just a precaution to start at 30 and I had nothing to worry about for several years.

On March 29, 2006, I had my annual “squeeze” test and I got the all-clear post card about 2 weeks later. Less than a week later, I stumbled over a lump in the shower. Despite the family history, I wasn’t particularly vigilant about self-exams, so I was lucky to have found it.

I initially dismissed the lump because I had just had the mammogram, but when it didn’t go away after 2 weeks, I started to get a little worried. My husband and friends insisted I go to the doctor, so I did.

I had to show the doc where the lump was, but he felt like it was no big deal and probably a result of me coming off of birth control 6 months earlier. Thankfully, the family history prompted him to send me for a repeat mammogram, just in case.

The next day at Telfair Women’s Hospital, they cut right to the chase and skipped the repeat mammogram in favor of an ultrasound. After all, I had just been there 5 weeks prior and there was nothing found. On the ultrasound, the spot was obvious, even to me. The radiologist ordered a biopsy for the following Tuesday. I still figured it was nothing because I wasn’t supposed to get breast cancer until I was at least 55, just like my mom and aunt. 37 was just too young for breast cancer in my family.

At the biopsy, I got no indication of what the results might be. On Thursday, afternoon, I got a call from the manager of nurses at Telfair asking if I could come over right away to discuss the results. I fell apart at work and thankfully, my best friend/co-worker insisted on going with me. My husband on a plane headed home from a business trip.

When I got to Telfair, I was immediately ushered back to the conference room where a radiologist and a patient navigator from the Lewis Cancer Center were waiting on me. I knew exactly what I was about to hear.

As a mother of two young children and a family history of breast cancer, I didn’t want to go through this experience again, so I opted to have a bi-lateral mastectomy, with simultaneous reconstruction. This was followed by 6 rounds of chemotherapy and 34 rounds of radiation. I am also participating in a 5 year clinical trial specifically for younger women, but it comes with the fun of early, and in may case permanent menopause.

I think my family history of breast cancer is the only thing that prompted my doctor to send me back to Telfair. There are many women without a family history that might have been dismissed given a similar situation. This is why I feel strongly that all women need to advocate for their own health, educate themselves, and do regular self breast exams. As my case is proof, mammograms are not 100% reliable in any woman and are especially inaccurate in women under 40. No woman should count on it as their only screening mechanism.

There is nothing like cancer to make you sit up and take inventory of your life. My husband and I have come to realize what really matters – family, friends, and health. We also learned through the experience what an incredible support system we have and we recognized how truly blessed we are.

My daughter once asked me what my favorite age was. I thought for about 2 seconds and said “whatever age I am at the moment you ask me”. I just feel fortunate to be here answering the question.

Artist: Jessica Knapp (16)

2010-09-16T19:20:00.006-04:00

Contributing artist, Savannah GA

"The Perfect Accessory"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Jessica Knapp / Bio

I am a Scad Graduate- Class of 1999, BFA Industrial Design. I have been in the toy industry as an inventor/designer for 10 plus years and just recently broke out on my own and created my company Cherrybox Studios. I recently moved back to Savannah, GA and continue to design & invent toys for the mass market, as well as do my own thing with my crafty plushies and bags. I have also shown art works in galleries throughout the country such as CBGB Gallery 13, MF gallery and The New York Gallery and had recent solo shows in Savannah at Black Orchid , Gallery Espresso, and Hangfire. Cherrybox Studios has been killing cute things since 2005. It's a mixture of the taxidermied Plushkill Forest plus a variety of other fun goodies like pasties, hats, jewelery, playful prints, and home goods.

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Artist:Dan McCormack (15)

2010-09-16T19:04:00.003-04:00

Contributing artist, New York

"Lucia & Sarah_10-31-09--06AB"

pinhole camera image/digital pigment print

12.25" x 11" matted to 20" x 16"

Dan McCormack / Bio

I began studying Photography around 1963 at the Institute of Design in Chicago. At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago around 1967, I began photographing the nude with Wendy, my wife. Then for over forty years I explored various techniques and processes while photographing the nude as a central theme.

In 2009, I won the Ultimate Eye Foundation’s grant for Figurative Photography and had my work featured in an exhibition at the Peninsula Museum of Art in Belmont, CA.

I currently head the Photography program at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York where I teach photography.

Artist & Survivor: Ria Vanden Eynde (14)

2010-09-16T18:59:00.004-04:00

Contributing artist & Survivor, Belgium

"Elysium"

Acrylic on (watercolor) paper-

6.9 by 9.2 in.

Ria Van Eynde

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Artist: Kathleen McHugh (13)

2010-09-16T18:49:00.004-04:00

Contributing artist, Washington
"Outrider"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas

Kathleen McHugh / Bio:

Kathleen McHugh is a Seattle painter who was awarded her BFA from the Cornish Institute in 1982. Her work has been selected for juried shows nationally and internationally,selected presentations of artist work, and publications which were distributed at international art fairs in the United States and Europe. Her work is published in Arte Euroamericano, publications by the Museum of the Americas, and exhibition catalogs.

Brief Artistic Statement:

Humanistic themes provide the inspiration for my art. Each work is a metaphor operating at a visual level in the territory of artistic expression. I am inspired by outriders at racetracks and am artistically exploring them. The painting "Outrider" expresses the power of horses even after a race, the steadfast unwavering relationship of outriders to their horses, and the fact that animals will always carry us, even when they are tired. I saw connection between these ideas and breast cancer. I dedicate this painting with love to my friend Ria, a breast cancer survivor. -

Survivor:Elizabeth Myers (12)

2010-09-09T08:50:00.006-04:00

Painted during TAC session one

"Breastless, Not Breathless"
Acrylic on canvas
16"x20"

Elizabeth's Story

In the summer of 2002 I found a lump in the upper interior of my left breast. I was not alarmed as I had received a negative mammogram exactly 6 months earlier. I had an appointment the next day with my pulmonary doctor, and upon telling him of my find the wheels were set into motion. I had a mammogram the following day and a biopsy the day after. On the 19th of July 2002 I was told I had breast cancer. My heart broke! I had to tell my family the news. I had to see the fear in their faces and again my heart broke. I had to be strong for them and prove I could survive. I had a mastectomy on August 7th, 2002, with chemo to start September 9th. Breast cancer was not spoken of in my home, as my father’s mother had died of this disease before my parents met. But I soon learned the history and how it does repeat itself. My grandmother’s and my similarities were uncanny. We both were named Elizabeth, we both were 49, we both had a husband 48, and we both had a son 22. Now here lies the difference. I lived!

I knew I had to fight this disease and make a voice for women who never got the opportunity to speak like the grandmother I never got to meet. I was not to be silenced. I knew there was a reason for my surviving, and I was going to use it. I had to put a face and a voice to a disease that was taking wives away from husbands, daughters away from parents, and mothers away from their children. I had to keep my word to my son when he said, “Please don’t leave me, please don’t die, you have to dance at my wedding and tell my children all the mischievous things I did growing up.” I have a voice and I am using it. I have learned you have to be strong and mentally prepared for the physical changes your body endures. You have to have an enthusiastic spirit and a sense of humor. Because bald is beautiful! I am a better person for surviving this ordeal!

In 2005 I was encouraged by my doctor to have the BRCA cell test since other cancers are so prevalent in my family. On May 13th, 2005, the results came back positive. Again my heart broke! On November 17th, 2005, I had my second mastectomy. I was determined more than ever to eradicate my body of cancer. My daughter has tested negative for the BRCA cell. If by telling my story I can save one life I have done my job. The diagnosis of breast cancer does not have to be a death sentence. Today’s technology and education can help save lives. I know for I am a survivor. I continue to encourage women to do their monthly self breast exam and have their yearly mammogram. Our voices have to be heard and our faces have to be seen. We are the grandmother, the mother, the wife, the lover, the daughter, the sister, the friend, the woman, the survivor!

My heart has healed for me but it still breaks every time a woman hears the words you have breast cancer, or looses her life to this disease.
I am more than a woman in pink, I bleed pink.

I am breastless, not breathless.

Elizabeth Henson Myers
Survivor

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Survivor: Dawn Sherwood (11)

2010-09-07T08:35:00.006-04:00

Painted during TAC session one

"Reflection"
Acrylic on canvas
16"x20"

Dawn’s Story for Art Cure

I am every woman. My story could be yours with but a few twist and turns that make it mine. I could write a long biography of my beginnings, my achievements, and my failures but the details are really not as important as the way life has shaped me. My story is one that is has its high points and low points but is always walked steadily forward with a hope born of my love for Christ. My life changed the day I became His child and all I have survived and become throughout this life is because of Him. My life began with my birth, an idyllic childhood, and then entrance into the wonderful world of womanhood. My person and character continually evolving as I experienced friendships, first love, marriage, career, motherhood, cancer, nursing degree, cancer again but always life moved forward. As I reflect on my life at this point I find hope continues to grow. Like a beautiful flower it springs up from some of the most unexpected events of life. I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings!

The Mirror

by Dawn Sherwood

As I stand in front of the mirror

My reflection stares back at me

Do I know the stranger whose

Eyes I see?

Searching, wondering, straining

To see clearly

The secret places hidden within

The soul that this body covers

I see a worn and weary woman

A woman who has walked fiery trials

Yet deeper, yes, much further inside

A soul filled with joy resides

A soul that knows

Her strength

Her essence

Her reason

Her life

Are formed from her journey

A voyage of love, laughter, tears,

Sorrow, triumph, healing, and

Hope

I now know quite well the reflection

Smiling at me

It is a survivor’s face I see

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LuAnn Palazzo (10)

2010-09-03T11:54:00.006-04:00

Contributing artist, NYC

"The Art Cure"
Ink jet printed on watercolor paper, hand-torn edges
7x10.25 in. 2-sided

Backside dedication:
"In honor of my cousins Linda R. of Florida, and Cara V. of New York, who are breast cancer survivors. They are both strong, independent women, full of love and life and I am truly blessed to know them."

"The Fashion Cure"
Ink jet printed on watecolor paper, hand-torn edges
6.5 x 10 in. 2-sided

Backside dedication:
"I created this image in honor of my friend Ria "The Rebel" from Belgium. She is a proud, defiant survivor of two cancers, and she is a woman who is a constant source of inspiration to me, and I am sure, many, many others. ("Revolt or die!") Love you, Ria!"

Artist: Walter Festuccia (9)

2010-09-02T22:48:00.005-04:00

Contributing artist, Italy
"I like the colors, I love the colors"
Mixed media mail art
21 x 30 cm

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Front

Back

Walter Festuccia / Bio

I was born in Rome, Italy March 16, 1958, I graduated as an assistant designer in 1978 the State Institute for cinema and television in Rome.

Now I'm a simple warehouse, but thanks to great passion for art since 2001 I started a personal artistic career I have participated in various group exhibitions since 2008 I started doing mailart for me is a great way to communicate art. I haven't a favorite technique for me is important to take every color and instrument and start creating, the colors and matter are my world and they communicate with my messages, I love the abstract and is primarily my language

My most important work in 2002 were the series of paintings inspired by the book "posts" artist Neville Gabie dedicated to the world of soccer work I called "the other half in midfield," another important work for me was In 2005, the series of paintings that I called "no smoking". (www.equilibriarte.org/walterfest)

Survivor: Susie van der Glas (7)

2010-09-01T23:38:00.019-04:00

Painted during TAC session two

"As Always Me"
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20"

"Life is always a journey. It is not where you travel, but how you travel. After my diagnosis of breast cancer, mastectomy and chemotherapy 9 years ago I have learned to travel my journey with small feet and soft steps. Live life to the fullest, always listen and never look back. One day at a time one step at a time. No surrender...And never ever forget your mammogram..." - Susie van der Glas

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Survivor: Kathleen Hatcher (8)

2010-09-01T23:38:00.018-04:00

Painted during TAC session one

"Jellyfish?"
Oil on canvas
16"x20"

Kathy’s Story

The earth rocked. Suddenly I was totally focused on what my doctor was saying on the phone. You have breast cancer and we must do a mastectomy. I remember how disconnected to everything here on earth I was – like floating in water. With ears ringing I told my husband the news.

Fast forward to today. Having gone through this experience I found that some good always comes with the bad. Life is short! Live it to the fullest! My husband and I sold our house, bought a trawler and cruised the intercoastal waterways, the Bahamas and the Keys for several years. My love of photography enabled me to document our trips and build up an impressive library of photographs. I sold many photographs and now paint them with a wonderful group of “forever” friends every Monday. We call ourselves “The 5.”

I encourage anyone going through breast cancer to focus on the good things that happen. I found daily conversations with God essential. Family and friends are more important than ever. Knowing firsthand that life is short, focusing on life after life is the most important thing one can do. I thank God I was blessed with health again and given the opportunity to grow and love those special people in my life.

My painting of “Jellyfish?” focuses on the good and the bad: the darker ones going down, the lighter ones going up. They all look very organic and similar looking to a breast. What do you see in them?

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Survivor: Abigail A. Norton (6)

2010-09-01T23:37:00.006-04:00

Painted during TAC session one

"No place but UP"
Mixed media on canvas
16" x 20"

Abigal's Story

When I turned 30 in December of 2007 things were going great. I had just gotten engaged in August. We were starting to plan the wedding for the following September. We were fixing up the house my fiancé had bought. Becoming a grown up was turning out not to be as painful as I thought it might be.

Then I got to my 30 1/2 birthday in July of 2008. This is when two doctors told me the only way for me to live was for me to poison myself for a year. Yes you heard me right. POISON myself. Now why on earth would anyone want to do this willingly? An evil disease named CANCER. That is why.

I had found my lump in April. The lump was tested and the cancer was being ninja like and hiding from the biopsy needle. My surgeon took the lump out and in the middle of the lump was the cancer ninja. The diagnosis was at stage one.

Then she went in to make sure that there weren't anymore ninjas hanging out. Unfortunately, she found quite a few that had made their way into my lymph system. When it was all said and done the diagnosis went from stage one to stage three- with a possibility of a four.

The next step was to go to the medical and radiation oncologists to figure out the best plan of attack. Now what I would soon learn was that not only could the cancer kill me but so could the chemo and radiation. At this point I figured what the heck. I was going to fight the fight with every medical option available to me and keep my fingers crossed.

Chemo started in July. We put off the wedding until September 2009. My fiancé, along with my mother at times, took me to every chemo treatment minus one. He shaved his head before my hair fell out. Then my mother, brother and nephews all had a shaving party of their own in Colorado. My fiancé helped me to shave my head when the hair took a turn towards a bald patchy look. He or my mother, when she was visiting, would get me anything to eat, stay at home with me, and make me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry.

Radiation came next. I was tired and about at my wits end. My fiancé supported me when I finally had to quit work for a month to just rest and do treatment. I know that I kept fighting because my fiancé and my family never gave up. They kept their chins up high and never let it show how scared they really were for me. I know they talked to friends and each other, but it meant the world to me that they never let their sadness add to my own.

This is the hardest thing I have ever been through in my life. I just keep reminding myself if it was this hard for me how hard it must have been for the people on the outside. I can't remember a time when I didn't think “Why is my fiancé still with me??? When he could just cut and run???" I would ask him and he would laugh. He would say "Why would I leave someone that I love as much as you??" Always a good answer I thought.

After all the treatments and fighting with my insurance company (a story for another time) I was done fighting and the cancer is gone. Thank goodness my family is still here and supports and loves me.

One year and two months after finding the cancer and starting a fight for my life I was able to continue on a different path for my life. September 19, 2009 I finally married Jeremy Norton and became Mrs. Abigail Ann Norton. And now on November 20, 2010 we are expecting our first child. I keep my fingers crossed every day that the cancer won't some back. However I know that no matter what happens that my husband and family will be there with me to fight again no matter the outcome.

Dawn Tolliver (5)

2010-09-01T23:36:00.018-04:00

Painted during TAC session one

"Chellefish Dreams"
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20"

Dawn's Story

My sister Rachelle was born when I was 9 1/2 years old. She was more of my daughter than my sister due to the age difference. My brother (six years older than her) and I helped mom raise her when my parents split when she was two. At one point when she was little we went to a fair and got her this teddybear. It was babyblue and she named it cottoncandy. That bear was as big as she was. From then on it sat in her chair or on her bed. When she got married, her flower was the calalily. My mom even had some growing in her back yard garden. At the age of 29, Rachelle and cancer met for the first time. It was a vicious battle and she had the upper hand. She had a masectomy and reconstructive surgery and all that goes with it. She went into remission for a short time and then, cancer came back to visit and this time it stayed. At the age of 34 she went to heaven to be with my grandpa in his nursery up there. Each year on her birthday and on his I send up two balloons for their party. My brother throws calalilies in the ocean and we celebrate a life cut way too short by a vicious disease. I honor her, not with talent, but with love and affection. I painted the bear pink for the cancer part even though hers was blue, but I think the rest will make since now...

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Previvor: Jennifer Gooch (4)

2010-09-01T23:36:00.017-04:00

Painted during TAC session two

"How Far Will You Go To Survive?"
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20"

Jennifer's Story:

It was brought to my attention several years back that there was genetic mutation in my mom’s family. I always felt I would have to face cancer one day for my mom, aunt and cousin were all survivors of breast cancer and my grandfather

colon cancer. Unfortunately I lost a cousin to pancreatic cancer, a great grandmother, great aunt and two cousins to ovarian cancer.

In January 2009 I had a big scare. Thank goodness they were benign cyst. But it scared me enough to seek genetic counseling immediately. I had known that my aunt and cousin were positive for the BRCA 2 gene mutation, but was not sure about my mom. For some reason my mom was afraid of losing her insurance. But after several months of reassuring her we were covered under the GINA law. She agreed to be tested for me. She too tested positive for the familial BRCA 2 gene mutation. This meant I had a 50% chance of inheriting this risk.

I had a blood draw in June 2009 and my results were back in a couple of weeks. As I sat in my genetic councilors office. She looked at me and said “I am sorry to tell you that you are positive for your families gene mutation.” She reviewed with me again my 50%-90% chance of developing breast cancer and a 30%-60% chance of developing ovarian cancer. Although my heart was saddened, I knew what I must do. There was no question. A prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and a complete hysterectomy would be the choice for me.

Now the question was which surgery would I choose first? After many hours of pondering, a mastectomy it would be. So as I prepared for my surgery, my wonderful breast surgeon, Dr. Paula DeNitto was so supportive. She helped me choose reconstruction options and a plastic surgeon that I was comfortable with. This was important as my plastic surgeon was one I would be spending a lot of time with over the months to come. I experienced many emotions while preparing for surgery. I constantly asked questions like : Why me? What did I do to deserve this? I even thought I would just keep my breast and chance it. But, I knew at the age of 17 years old what I went through when my mom had breast cancer. And if I could prevent my kids from going through what I went through, I would do anything. Because you see, I am the anchor of my four beautiful children’s lives and it was being tampered with, and it was my obligation to fix it.

January 13, 2010 was the day I had my breast removed. I mark this day as a sad but new beginning for me. I now have a chance at life, breast cancer free. Many factors played a part in my decision whether to have or not to have reconstruction. Growing up with a mom who had chosen not to have reconstruction played a major part in my decision. Considering I was only 33 years at the time of my mastectomy, and planned to live for many long years, living without breast was not the choice for me. I saw how wearing a prosthesis

made my mother feel. She had trouble finding certain clothes and it often affected her self-esteem. I have always been a woman who enjoys fashion and having my breast removed was not about to get in the way. But, I guess the beauty of what I learned through me having reconstruction and my mom having a prosthesis, is that we are both empowered woman in unique but different ways because of our own individual choices.

Out of all the questions I am asked . I seem to be asked the most has my experience affected my self-confidence in terms of my feminity and sexuality. I believe that every woman’s self-confidence is affected by a mastectomy. For me, everyday is a work in process. I can rationalize what I have done and be proud of the choice I made, though the word “normal” will never have the same meaning. But then again, what is normal?

Even though my mastectomy was a prophylactic mastectomy meaning I chose surgery for preventive reasons not because I developed cancer. It has still been somewhat difficult on my family. I have four beautiful children ,who knows what has happened to “mommy”. Since I have a BRCA gene mutation, all four of my children have a 50% chance of inheriting this mutation. I have been very open about what I have done because I feel it is my obligation to educate them about their risk. I often ask myself as I brush my daughters hair, or cradle my sons as we watch a movie: “Will you be the one?” “Will you have to fight the battle one day?”

It is so discouraging knowing you have a hereditary cancer gene that you have possibly passed to your children. When you think about passing hereditary traits to your children you think about your hair color, your eye color, or your personality. But a cancer gene-WOW! What a horrible thing to have to receive from your parent. My two younger children don’t quite understand yet, but my two older ones are learning more and asking questions. When this happens, the only thing I can do is go back to my positive attitude. I have turned my negative energy into positive energy by joining up with FORCE-facing our risk of cancer EMPOWERED. I wanted to bring a support group to my region to help educate and advocate gene carriers, their families and the community. So it is my prayer that at the appropriate age my children will choose genetic counseling with testing. Until then I will continue to make them aware of their risk.

I would like for woman who are facing mastectomies , whether for a cancer diagnosis or preventive reasons, to know that a woman is judged by her strength and dignity, not by her breasts. So have your mastectomy and wear you scars with pride ,because what you have been through- or about to go through -speaks louder about who you are as a person than any breast ever will. Beauty is only skin deep. Be proud of who you are and where you are going with this experience. May you find the strength you never knew you had…. I did!

I am now labeled as a “Previvor”- survivor of a pre-disposition or increased risk for a disease such as cancer. There may not be a preventive surgery for every form of cancer out there. But I will do whatever it takes to be cancer free. Who knows, cancer may never be a part of my life. But if it is, I will not go down without a fight, for I am an empowered woman who loves life, is determined, and fearless. For that reason I am positively BRCA!

I dedicate my art work to my awesome doctors – Dr. Paula DeNitto and Dr. Thomas w. Horn.

Dr. DeNitto my doctor my friend- Thank you for encouraging me to make that final step and sticking by me through it.

Dr. Horn my doctor my encourager -I have realized it takes pure talent for plastic surgeons to do what they do to give us what we have; and I am so grateful for what your talent has done for me!

Thank you both for making my transition easier. You both will forever be special to me!!!

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Lauren Monreal (2)

2010-09-01T23:35:00.013-04:00

Painted during TAC session two

Title pending
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20"

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Survivor: Sarahlyn U. Argrow (3)

2010-09-01T23:35:00.012-04:00

Painted during TAC session one

"Circle of Hands"
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20"

Circle of Hands

Have you ever looked at the hands that are around you? Have you ever noticed the many different shapes, sizes or colors? Have you ever wondered how different your life would be if your family, friends, associates, etc. did not have the function or their hands? Or how things would be if they did not extend a hand to you?

I am now a Nine Year breast cancer survivor, getting older and if you know me you know I have my own saying for this, which is “I am a Nine Year Overcomer of the big C. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2001.

There I was going on with my happy life, making new strides on my job and in my personal life as well, overcoming the big hurdle of poverty, etc. I was living large for once in my life, I had started this great new non-profit 501(C)(3)organization designed to assist single working women and their children entitled AWWIN, Inc (Assisting Working Women In Need). I was making great money and feeling pretty good about who God was making me. I had no more financial problems. I was now really able to provide for myself and my children. I was able to pay tithes, pay all my bills, buy grocery, go shopping, and do some of the things we desired to do. I was traveling for Carson Products and becoming a woman of the world now (SMILE).

I guess you are wondering how or what happened to make this possible. Well, I’ll tell you. God gave me this great job at Carson Products as a temporary assistant to the IT Department, which I later went on to become the EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) Coordinator.

While working at Carson I also had a great insurance plan to go to the doctor. I learned how to do self checks of my breast for lumps and as I became more knowledgeable of this self-checking procedure I did it on a regular bases. It is not that I was really looking to find something (and who really is), just trying to be proactive and the fact that I now knew how to do this and had the mindset to do it was fascinating. Well what do you think happened to this now found woman of the world?

One evening while trying to be… I noticed there was a lump in my left breast so the next day I called and made an appointment with my OBGYN, not really expecting him to find anything, but he did. He sent me to get a mammogram and after checking the mammogram they decided I needed to get a biopsy. Can I tell you I began to get nervous, you see I did not tell anyone what was going on but my co-worker Kendra. I did not want to scare my children, again I had to be this pillar of strength, therefore I went to get the mammogram and biopsy alone. WOW what a mistake, but again God provided. The persons in Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital were so amazing and patient with me. They allowed me time to cry as their hands so carefully did the mammogram and biopsy. They were comforting with their words as their hands handled the machines, guided the needles and gave me tissues to dry my tears away.

As I went through this chapter in my life I watched the many hands that dealt with my body, my mind and my soul. From my OBGYN, the persons that administered the mammogram and the biopsy, the person that wrote the prescription for the mammogram to the person that received it I knew I was in good hands. There seemed to be something about the hands that really stood out. I began to focus on the hands and take notes in my mind about the hands that were assisting me now. In all walks of this chapter they were definitely different shapes, sizes and colors and it did not matter to them what shape, size or color my hands were, they were all there to take care of me and they did.

In looking back at the phone call that I received from the surgeon telling me that the test were positive, I can remember my hands shaking a little and using them to cover my mouth and asking God “Why”, as I began to cry. My hands muffled my mouth as I asked God “Had I not got through enough?” “Why did He now allow me to experience cancer TOO?”

You see I thought He (God) had made His masterpiece through me and was giving me a break. He had given me this great job and the ability to start AWWIN to serve others, to become a woman of the world, etc. I imagine He figured I could take one more test and I knew I needed to pass this as I had all the others.

Going through this ordeal, there was only one hand that I could not physically see or touch, but I had to believe beyond belief that it was there and that was the hand of God. He had carried me through so many times before and I had to believe He had me in the palm of His hands at this time. I also had to know He had already given me the natural hands I needed to pull me through this as well.

God gave me hands of all shapes, sizes and colors. When I sat in the chemo room I watched as the hands of all shapes, sizes and colors would so carefully hook us up to the chemo pumps in the chemo room to give us our treatments. I watched if there was an emergency in the room how quickly those hands would run to the problem. It did not matter who it was they were treated by those hands as if it were their very own lives.

When I had an appointment to talk with the oncologist (Dr. Bala)I would watched him reading my chart to see my progress or my … he would speak and his hands would continue flipping a page or two of the chart to discuss what was going on in detail and he would verbally begin by saying Ms Argrow... He was kind and caring and as his hands flipped the pages of the chart or wrote a prescription, etc. I knew I was not just a patient to him but a person that desired to live.

There were times after the treatment when my children (Katie, Daveeda, Daysha, Catherine and (Day) Thelena) hands had to drive me home and get me into bed. My mother’s (Catherine) hands were there to make me homemade vegetable soup and to make sure I took my medication. That soup seemed to be the only thing I could keep on my stomach and when I seemed as though I did not have the strength to feed myself she would say “Let me feed Monkey” (that is her pet name for me). All of these hands were there no matter what time of the day or night. I can remember when I needed someone to scratch my foot one day after treatment, WOW can you imagine, but they were right there with the so much needed hand just to do that.

My sisters (Faye, Jodi, Teke, Heather, Beck and Ann) would come to Savannah just to sit, talk, and treat me like a queen and all family dinners were at my house. The sister Circle of Hands was so amazing, they made sure I knew that their big sister (Me) was a very important part of their lives.

I can remember going back to work after a couple of days after each treatment when I was able to do so and watching as my co-workers took the time to make sure I was well taken care of. I refused to work downstairs as I should have done, but again if you know me I had to be this pillar of strength and not show my weakness. My co-workers would assist me up the stairs and made sure my work area was good also. They either prepared or purchased dinners with their hands for me and my daughters. Carson Products was an awesome place to work.

When I went to church Rev Marsha Postell Buford made sure someone always had a hand extended to me if and when I got up to praise God and most of the time it was her that extended that hand. She just would not let me be Ms I can handle this.

If you are wondering about how AWWIN did in this chapter of my life, God had given me Tammy & Wakia as the lead volunteers and their hands never skipped a beat in keeping my dream alive.

There was not a place I went that there were not hands to take care of me or my needs. They did not just take care of me and my needs, but it was done with love, respect and done with a GREAT BIG caring attitude.

As I began to paint the Circle of Hands I kept telling the other artist that I was not an artist. I was wondering how the canvas was going to become a piece of art. Well, God began to show me the importance, the significance of the hands of the people He had placed in my life and the canvas began to come alive with paint. The AMAZING “Circle of Hands” He had given just to me is what you are seeing.

THANK YOU TO MY “CIRCLE OF HANDS” mentioned and un-mentioned in every aspect of my life!!!

Sarahlyn U. Argrow
Nine Year Overcomer & Getting Older

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Hani Steele (1)

2010-09-01T23:34:00.006-04:00

Painted during TAC session two

"Meow" by 'Catwoman'
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20"

Hani Steele, daughter of Survivor

My mother is a Breast Cancer Survivor; she had a lumpectomy last year. My Mother In Law did pass from Breast Cancer - hers was detected at a very late stage in the 1980s. Twenty years ago, it did not seem like people spoke of cancer, breasts, or their feelings.

I have been hosting and particpating in Breast Cancer fundraisers for about ten years. I am not sure how I got started, but the Awareness color (pink) was the thing that initially I adapted and ran with. When I started fundraising, wearing pink was cute for me, because I generally wear black. At my first Race for the Cure in Detroit (over 20,000 participants), I was a spec in the sea of pink. When I looked around at the color pink filling the dismal grey color of the Motor City Streets, it hit me. It was an emotional moment. I felt I had a purpose. I walked with strangers, we shared stories, I saw the homemade shirts with names and pictures, I learned the words to I Run For Life and cried when the Survivors had a special tribute. The support shown by the Corporations there reinforced the strength and energy in fighting, understanding, and healing. Ford's Pink Mustang and free Warrior scarves and SunChips pink bags of free chips were takeaways; as I looked at them in the front seat of my truck on the way home I felt that someone somewhere had the influence in these companies to do the right thing, and that these corporations were run by some very compassionate people.

Last year, my Mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer (she is in her 70s). It really hit home for me. The lump was found on Thursday; her surgery was on Monday. She said on the phone "I never thought you would be raising money for me." I thought that this was it. I thought, how ironic that she would not benefit from any of the advances in medicine or support groups or awareness. I thought this was going to be the last time I was going to see her. I flew home and her surgery was rough at first. In general, she has bounced back fairly well from the chemo/radiation. She was fortunate to have a sponsor, and fantastic medical care, and we are able to speak about her experience. If this had happened 20 years ago, I do not feel that she would have felt as free to discuss her feelings/fears/the cancer and it would have been a lonely and terrible experience.

I participate in as many Breast Cancer Awareness and Fundraising events that I can. If the funds raised over the years have made anyone's journey less painful, lonely, or uncomfortable, then I am doing what I am here to do.

Artist Work Coming In

2010-08-31T21:18:00.000-04:00

I was thrilled to hear that some of the first pieces from abroad are arriving at the gallery for the international artists call portion of The Art Cure. I'll be posting those along with the survivor's work painted last week beginning Wednesday.

I'm meeting with Horizon Gallery owner, Luc Ebner, in a few days to finalize our last efforts for The Art Cure.

The opening is in 30 days. This is where it should get ~~chaotic~~ exciting. :)

Interested in submitting a work of art to be auctioned for charity? Click here to find out how. Deadline is Sept. 26 so you still have time!

Painting Session One Successful!

2010-08-25T12:24:00.001-04:00

Here's a preview of what happened on our first painting session. It's a small sampling of over 70 photos. These images will be included in The Art Cure Diaries documentary book I'm currently working on.

COASTAL GA residents:

This Saturday, Aug 28th at 9 am I'm kicking off the 2nd and last painting session for the 2010 edition of The Art Cure. I have openings left. At this time, you do not need to be a breast cancer survivor to volunteer and participate in the painting session. So long as breast cancer has touched your life in some way, you qualify. Please sign up now before space runs out. theartcure@gmail.com

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS:

Please be aware that The Art Cure has opened this project to include works by any artist wishing to donate to the cause. Your work will be auctioned off and 100% of sales will be given to charity. Click here for details.

Enjoy the photos!

Don't miss your opportunity to be included in the special edition of The Art Cure Diaries 2010. Submit your artwork or if close enough to Savannah, sign up for Saturday's painting session asap! Email: theartcure@gmail.com.

Highlights from YSC Pink Tea Celebration of Life

2010-08-15T21:42:00.000-04:00

I attended the YSC Savannah 3rd Annual Pink Tea Celebration of Life event this afternoon. I've been home for a few hours and my frazzled brain is finally settling down. I had no idea what to expect other than networking but it had been so long since I've done that. Seven years in a foreign country can make a social butterfly into a quiet moth. On this daytime outing I had a fabulous time and met some wonderful people.

Here's some highlights:

1. Luc secured a visit by the pink fire truck from Pink Heals SE Georgia Chapter, for The Art Cure's opening night, October 1, 2010. Yay!

2. We're super thrilled to have AWWIN's very own Sarahlyn U. Argrow joining us for one of our painting sessions. She's a breast cancer survivor. I did not know that but then, today has brought lots of new information to my attention.

3. Missy inspires art via "BrEaST" assets and invited me to one of her painting classes. Why is this special? Well, if you don't know, her participants imprint their breasts onto a canvas. So, I'm going topless and paint with my boobies! I wish I thought of that idea first. This boobie art will be my donation to The Art Cure's auction. Hmmm, what's my boob imprint worth? (perhaps this is information I should not know)
*If you're interested in participating in this art class and you're within Savannah and have breasts of course, contact Missy to see if she has anymore openings.

4. I'm going to team up with FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered) in the future. A few spontaneous ideas that came out of conversation have some great potential. Being my best friend's mother died of breast cancer and the same best friend's younger sister survived a rare ovarian cancer just before entering college, and that the very woman who inspired me to create The Art Cure was diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer in May, I'm feelin' a higher calling here.

Here's a few picture highlights:

Primary Art Supply Boxes Arrive!

2010-08-14T22:08:00.000-04:00

http://www.primaryartsupply.com/

Well, here it all is, the painting materials I requested. I am SO grateful to Robyn at Primary Art Supply. She's been such an incredible supporter that "thank you" words are not enough. Making THE ART CURE a success is what I believe will be the truest thank you all of us working on this project can offer.

Sign ups are beginning to really trickle in and I'm confident we'll fill most if not all our spots tomorrow at the YSC Savannah 3rd Annual Pink Tea Celebrataion of Life breast cancer awareness event, which I'm very happy to attend. If you're local and planning on attending, make sure to stop by our table and say hi! I'll be there with my husband, Michael S. Troop and Luc Ebner of Horizon Gallery will join us as well.

So, the biggest fear at this point is, omg, are these boxes going to cover it? It's like a self-made bet: did I calculate the art materials right? I hope I didn't request too much white...

(oh the thoughts that race through my anxious mind! :)

THE ART CURE's International Artists Call

2010-08-13T08:48:00.004-04:00

We’ve had very warm responses from non-local artists wishing to donate artwork to The Art Cure project but not fitting the criteria of having experienced breast cancer. Luc Ebner, the host gallery owner and I feel limiting who may participate would be an injustice to those who care or in some way feel strongly towards breast cancer awareness and want to be a part of The Art Cure. Therefore...

Artists as well as non-local breast cancer survivors/patients are invited to donate one work of art to The Art Cure art project. All proceeds from the silent auction will be divided between Young Survival Coalition Savannah Affiliate and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Coastal Georgia Affiliate with 50% going to each organization.

As a participating artist, you will receive credit for your submissions on the official program and on The Art Cure blog where I will display all art submitted along with a link to your website. Artistic interpretation and expression is open so long as breast cancer is kept in mind.

I extend a hand in gratitude for your consideration in particiapting in a project which supports breast cancer awareness and the search for a cure. Everyone part of THE ART CURE is excited to receive your inspirations!

Details! Details! Details!

• Artists may submit ONE work no larger than 16x20 inches (40.6 x50.8 cm).

Include:

- title of work

- media (if mixed media, specify)

- size of work

- your name, contact information and a 100 word or less bio

- digital photo of work size no larger than 432 pixels wide, web ready on CD or email to theartcure@gmail.com with "TAC: title of your work" in the subject area.

- your website

- minimum opening bid price

- hang ready

• Artistic interpretation is open

• All work MUST be at the gallery by Sunday, September 26, 2010 to be accepted into the show. An invitation only opening begins October 1, 2010, followed by a public opening October 3, 2010.

• All work will appear on the official TAC blog for an international community to view and bid on once it arrives.

This is a community effort to bring breast cancer to the forefront of our minds during October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Mail work to:
The Art Cure Project
Horizon Gallery
206 E. Bay Street, Savannah, GA 31401 USA

Horizon website: http://www.michelesnellgalleries.com/
The Art Cure: http://www.theartcure.blogspot.com/

I'll have a spot of tea please

2010-08-11T21:51:00.000-04:00

Fantastic news! Along with my husband, fine art photographer Michael S. Troop and Horizon Gallery owner Luc Ebner, THE ART CURE will have a table at YSC Savannah 3rd Annual Pink Tea Celebration of Life event this Sunday, August 15th. Whoo hoo! I'm thrilled about this amazing opportunity.

If you have any questions about THE ART CURE project or just want to meet us, this is your perfect chance because the weekend after is our first painting session! Plus, we'll be there to take sign ups so if you haven't done so yet, this will be the time to pencil in your name and be part of what will be a very fun, intimate and art healing kind of day.

If you're looking for something to do this Sunday with your family and weren't planning on anything, come visit us in Wilmington Island to support breast cancer awareness.

A quick noted update

2010-08-11T13:54:00.001-04:00

I just want to mention this blog will go through some changes. Its original version was a quick get it up type version. Now that THE ART CURE is past its point of no return, and we'll be posting artwork in just a few weeks, expect some changes to the blog along with a few very cool additions for your viewing pleasure. :)

Official Invitation to BC Patients and Survivors

2010-08-07T16:36:00.000-04:00

While the invites have been spreading word of mouth around town, here is a link to the official invitation Please pass this on to those who you feel will find this of interest or value. We are still seeking volunteers to paint.

Thank you!
Tatiana

Have Facebook, Twitter or a Blog?

2010-08-05T14:07:00.000-04:00

The last two weeks have taken me by storm. Overwhelmed is an understatement but making order out of chaos seems to be a kind of pleasure. Don’t quote me on the pleasure thing as I might change my mind. For now it’s still all good. :)

As an update to our audience, there have been some challenges as to be expected in these types of things. Planning and development are different from execution and paperwork is still being processed. Despite all of that everything is moving relatively smoothly and on target.

Our biggest challenge is getting the word out that we still have openings for breast cancer survivors and patients to participate in painting and that’s where your support comes in.

If you don’t have art supplies or money to donate to The Art Cure’s efforts and you DO have Twitter, Facebook or a blog, please consider offering a few moments of your time to announce the following on your pages or placing this on any known calendar of events:

“The Art Cure invites breast cancer patients and survivors to paint for the cause! Painting days: Aug. 22 & 28 in Richmond Hill, GA. All proceeds go to charity. Space available!! Learn more: www.theartcure.blogspot.com. ”

You’re welcome to spice it up your own way so long as it’s announced we still have availability on our painting day schedule for more volunteers and refer them to the blog for more info - or The Art Cure Facebook/Twitter accounts.

Donate Button Is Ready to Use

2010-07-22T21:30:00.000-04:00

This is an important step, getting things squared away with the banks and PayPal. It was a lot of going back and forth so let's make it all worthwhile!

Please help us get the supplies we need for our participants to paint. Though we've been fortunate to have some things donated for the cause, art supplies, water to hydrate while painting, tissues to hand out while laughing or crying - these are little details a $5 to $25 donation will help us obtain.

Please click the button below to make your contribution right now! Thank you.

VIP Date change

2010-07-21T16:21:00.001-04:00

DATE CHANGE: Aug 15 painting session XLD due to schedule conflict. **New date up soon**. Will be @Pink Tea instead with my family. Say hi there! It's the perfect place to ask me questions about The Art Cure project. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Here's the link for the Pink Tea Celebration in Savannah: http://tinyurl.com/2arr87y

*****UPDATE****

Painting dates are Sunday August 22nd and Saturday August 28th.

The Art Cure's first press!

2010-07-18T10:21:00.000-04:00

Don't stop the presses! This is just the first!

I'm so delighted The Art Cure project was written about in the Manhattan Arts International "Share HerStory" blog. Manhattan Arts International was founded by Artrepeneur coach Renee Phillips and she serves as a great inspiration to many artists, myself included. Check out this wonderful mention she gave the project!

The Art Cure: primary goals and projections

2010-07-17T10:16:00.003-04:00

The Art Cure will support charity but one of its primary goals is to support breast cancer patients and survivors through the introduction of art therapy.

Survivors often end up feeling less than positive once their treatment is over. Stress, finances and the experience take its toll. Art can help expend, focus and relieve built up energy as it provides a medium for emotions that have no words. While the doctors work on the body, the patient has no choice but to work on her emotional self. Art speaks when the spirit has been provoked and heals when it has been let loose on a canvas.

The Art Cure’s foundational concept was built on the introduction of this “letting loose” on a canvas philosophy and will be explored during the painting sessions scheduled August 15th & 22nd. What the patients and survivors create will be sold for charity donation.

The Art Cure’s goal is to accomplish the following:

1. The project itself will contain a 3-dimensional essence in that it will project and display the various modes of communication for its theme, being the emotions and experience of facing breast cancer. For a full understanding of any idea, it is optimal to incorporate the visual, the written and the verbal. The Art Cure art project accomplishes the above by providing the artwork from patients and survivors, by looping a documentary film during the show and creating a photographic and written essay to be included in a book about the artistic journey these women have taken.

2. To introduce patients and survivors to painting as an emotional journey towards healing while using music to guide them in their expression. I will teach participants techniques to use artistic expression as ways to battle and control stress so they can use it in their daily lives.

3. To meet our minimum and conservative goal of $10,000 for a proceeds split between the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Coastal Georgia Affiliate and Young Survival Coalition in Savannah.

If you have any questions about this project, please contact Tatiana at theartcure@gmail.com. If you know of a breast cancer patient or survivor in the greater Savannah area, please forward this post. Spaces area still available and our painting session deadline is less than 1 month away!

Official Poster #3

2010-07-16T12:36:00.000-04:00

Calling All Savannah Breast Cancer Victims & Survivors

2010-07-15T13:54:00.001-04:00

In order to make The Art Cure successful, we need you. Your story is important for others to learn from. There are never enough stories of courage and strength, tests of will and sacrifice and the struggles breast cancer brings.

Art is a language on its own and speaks to the heart of humanity. The visual touches the human heart and our emotions instantly and has potential to penetrate a story deeper than words and stories told before.

We invite breast cancer victims and survivors to join us in August to participate in expressing yourself with a canvas and paint. Yes, you can finger paint if wish! It’s your painting and you can do what you want to.

Your artwork will then be part of The Art Cure’s opening at the Horizon Gallery, 206 Bay St., Savannah GA where October 1st will kick off a month long silent auction of your work! Cool, eh? All the artwork sales go towards breast cancer awareness and research. That’s cool with ‘smart’ at the end. Join us!

If you or someone you know is a breast cancer victim or survivor and interested in being part of this local Savannah event, contact Tatiana for more information: theartcure@gmail.com.

Thank you and join us on Twitter or Facebook!

*this is an updated version of July 15th posting. The gallery address has been corrected.

Official The Art Cure Poster # 2

2010-07-14T23:11:00.000-04:00

Diversity in artistic vision is important. As an artist I always push the various angles a concept can go. I thought a few choices would be nice to offer. I'll make buttons of these soon and work on more poster designs as downtime allows.

Click here to download poster PDFs for printing and sharing.

Official Poster for The Art Cure

2010-07-12T15:07:00.000-04:00

Click here to download PDF for large scale version or right click and save image. Please share. Thank you.

The Art Cure Q&A

2010-07-07T23:04:00.005-04:00

What is The Art Cure?

The Art Cure is a breast cancer awareness art project conceived by international artist and boudoir photographer, Tatiana von Tauber. Its focus is to introduce the power of art in healing and coping with the dark sides of life. In coordination with The Horizon Gallery in downtown Savannah, I invite 30-40 breast cancer patients and/or survivors to participate by joining me in August 2010 to paint a work of art in a group setting whereby I’ll photograph their artistic journey, each participant and artwork painted all of which will be combined into “The Art Cure Diary”, a photographic essay in book form. All original paintings will be auctioned off for Susan G. Komen for the Cure (R) Coastal Georgia Affiliate and Young Survival Coalition.

Artistic interpretation is open so long as it relates in some way to the experience of breast cancer in one’s life.

What are the deadlines?

Various deadlines will be posted shortly. This project has a compact timeline and I’m diligently working with my team to pull it together.

Tentative dates for the group painting portion of this art project are Aug. 16th and 22nd. All registrations by participants must be in by August 10, 2010.

Friday, October 1, 2010 is The Art Cure’s projected opening at Horizon Gallery in downtown Savannah for VIPs, invited guests and press. Sunday, October 3, 2010 is planned for a public reception.

How can I help?

1) Spread the word. I’m looking for a maximum of 40 participants, women of all ages who are currently diagnosed with breast cancer or have survived it.

2) Donate $$. Without the sponsorship of community organizations and individuals like you this breast cancer awareness art project cannot be possible. We need lots of paint, brushes and canvases! Oh, and some food too. This will be a 2-day painting event!

3) Spread the word. Oh, yes. I mentioned that already. :0)

4) Have expertise to offer in exchange for fun and a great cause? Join The Art Cure Advisory Board. Please send an email to theartcure@gmail.com with your telephone number if you’re interested and I’ll call you to discuss it. I promise you'll hardly do a thing yet you'll be vital in the project.

5) Have larger funding budgets, services or products to offer? Your donation of funds, product, service, time and effort will be rewarded with a VIP invitation to The Art Cure’s opening in October, the official month of breast cancer awareness. You’ll also get an appreciation hug by my team and me upon arrival, maybe a press photo but I’ll guarantee an ad in the official opening program and mention on the official The Art Cure blog.

6) Donate money. This one must be mentioned twice as it’s as important as food. All funds collected for this project will go towards needed materials and costs to make this project happen. Any leftover funds will be donated to charity along with the final silent auction amount.

Write Tatiana von Tauber at theartcure@gmail.com with the option you want most to help with! I’d love this to be a community driven collaborative project. Everyone’s voice counts when it’s for the greater good. As a life long artist, art has healed my spirit a hundred times over. Art is the voice when words cannot be found.

Tweet The Art Cure breast awareness art project and thank you for your time and donations!

Gratefully yours,
Tatiana von Tauber
http://www.theartcure.blogspot.com/
www.twitter.com/theartcure