In March 2006 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. During my regular visits for chemo I spotted a poster advertising "Oncology on Canvas" a world wide bi-annual art competition. It stuck in my mind.
In October 2007 after my daughter's wedding, my sister shouted me a business class trip to London to join her and my niece. She then took me to Paris. It was the best experience of my life and we had a fantastic time together. It was after I returned that I realised I needed time for me again. After my treatment I had felt so frazzled at work and so exhausted. The trip made me realise that I seriously needed time out to focus on me again - and I deserved it! I promptly took my long service leave. It was great to do whatever I felt like doing daily and to spend time with my young daughter. I started exercising and I started to draw and sew again. It was then I decided I needed a goal.
Five months later I packaged up my artwork for Oncology on Canvas with the 250 word anonymous essay that had to accompany it and sent it off to New York.
It was judged a few months later and the winners were announced in New York City. I didn't win my category but I did make the selection to have my work go on tour for the next two years. I was ecstatic! It was a really fantastic project and very therapeutic. I haven't looked back since.
Here is the essay I sent with my entry.
The Gift
During my cancer journey my three children and husband sought to give me something to inspire and help me. My daughter's fianc‚e suggested an easel.
Having studied fine arts in my late teens I hadn't seriously focused on the artistic gift I was given for most of my adult life.
During chemo I started to draw again. Further into the treatment I found I couldn't focus. My gift stood unused for some time. Finally, when the fog lifted, I began to draw my family. I focused on my gift and the pleasure of the talent I was born with but had thrown to one side for most of my life.
Thus my entry is called the gift. The gift of life........the gift of love..........and the gift I was born with.
My collage of drawings and photos form a mosaic. It is my journey through breast cancer, loss of a breast, radiation burn, excess weight, hair loss and loss of self esteem. The focal point is my gift..........the easel.
The resolve to fight the cancer and allow it to be an inspiration rather than a burden are what still drives me daily. I don't focus on it, I cherish it.
This piece was the coming to terms with my body image again. Being proud to finally assess myself nude and hopefully show others that the loss of a breast is not ugly after all.
And, being so thankful for my gift, that I felt compelled to enter this competition.
