Hi Diana...

Yes, you have my permission to use my BC words on your web site.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in '93. When I was going through my year of treatment for breast cancer I painted and wrote about what I was feeling. I also took several sessions with an art therapist. I find that my art work ebbs and flows...some of the work was created before my diagnosis and had no titles until after diagnosis...maybe the wisdom of my subconscious knew what was coming! Breast cancer has affected my work.

Enclosed is my artist's statement about the series of paintings I did during my year of treatment. This will give you more of an idea where I am coming from.  Each painting has words to go with it.
-Mary Anne

Artist's Statement

During my year of treatment for breast cancer, painting was a way to get in touch with what was going on inside me.  I began each piece by playing with colors and having no preconceived ideas.  The painting was first. Then the words came. The end result of this process was the creation of a series of paintings which depicted my struggle with the disease from the initial shock of the diagnosis through fear, anger, grief, and survivorship.

The merging of my art and words allowed me to clarify what I was feeling, own the feeling, and then move on. This was a powerful tool in my healing journey. 

[Mary Anne has already sold 2 of her paintings.  If you want to comment or buy, you may email her.]

Titles:

1. Lady in Waiting (waiting for test results)
2. Struggling in the Darkness of Uncertainty
3. In Limbo
4. The Shock of the Diagnosis
5. Chemo:   I have a fear of receiving chemotherapy yet I know it is the next step. I release all concerns and surrender to my good.
6. Anger
7. Bigger Than My Fears
8. Gratitude:  For all those who stood behind me as I struggled to come to grips with breast         cancer...For my family...my friends..my medical team..I am grateful. (This one appeared in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine Periodical)
9. Life's Kaleidoscope:  Although I struggle with the fact that my life has changed, I keep moving on.  I am well. I am whole. I am a survivor.
10. Healing From Betrayal
11. "Have you looked at your incision yet?" "No, I don't have the courage."
12. Listening to the Silence
13. Spirituality's Strength
14. Who am I now? Who will be emerging?
15. Cherished Moments
16. The Rhythms of Life
17. Many Times/Many Roles
18. Everpresent--The shadow
19. Out in Joy
20. Free in Spirit

At 09:07 PM 4/17/00 -0700, Diana wrote:

Hello Mary Anne,
How familiar your words are, your expression about your art and its healing for you during that time of learning to cope with cancer.  Have you noticed any evolution in your art during these past 7 years? Did you ever do a self-portrait of yourself after breast cancer? My husband thought I was nuts when I did. But I discovered years later that many artists do self-portraits after cancer and it's very therapeutic, healing.-Diana