Breast Cancer
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 when completing preliminary tests necessary to undergo IVF treatment. As I entered the world of healing I realized that not only was it a continuation of the work I had been doing all along, but that there probably wasn't another single things that could encapsulate as many of the issues and challenges we face as women. In the modern world where women's roles shift but don't ever really seem to change, our breasts are linked to the nurturing of ourselve
LIving Water
POD
2004
71-3/8" x 91-1/2"
Oil on unstretched canvas
I painted Living Water before I knew I had breast cancer. The narrative I had in mind for this painting changed and expanded once I realized the problem I had depicting my left breast was due to a message that was trying to get through to me. Visually I had solved this by making myself flat, practically breast-less. Ironically cancer treatments also proposed this solution though I didn't take that route.
So Happy Together
NFS
2005
30" x 34"
Oil on canvas
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer and knew I would need surgery, I decided to make a painting of all the good things about my breasts and all of the bad things that happened to it. This is the 'good things' painting. Most are pre-cancer adventure, but I did have multiple student and doctor hands feeling me up at one exam which made an impression.
Don't Cry
NFS, Glice available
2005
30" x 40"
Oil on canvas
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer and knew I would need surgery, I decided to make a painting of all the good things about my breasts and all of the bad things that happened to it. This is the bad things painting called Don't Cry implying "over Spilled Milk." The blocks here are the sizes of breast tissue actually removed during surgeries. My doctor said one was the size "of a hotel bar of soap" but she obviously went to fancier hotels than I did.
Power Point
1200
2009
40" x 30"
Part of a breast cancer adventure, even if initial treatment is successful, is the concern it will return and the stress when screening tests start to lead you down a familiar road. New factors, like the timeline of one's child start to factor in.
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