The Imagery of Art Therapists Impacted by Cancer
The Silent Cryout, 2020
Kimie Cho
13" x 11" x 3"
paper
It has been over 15 years since I was diagnosed with cancer and had treatments. However, during the workshop with the fellow art therapists who were affected by cancer, I have realized I still have some unresolved and unprocessed feelings hiding deep inside. The Silent Cryout is about processing left behind and neglected feelings.
My cancer treatment of surgery, chemotherapy, and the radiation took almost a year. During that time, my sister and my mother took full charge of taking care of me and my 8 year old son. I was very grateful to have such a wonderful support. Thus to show my appreciation to my family and in order to appease my son’s anxiety, I did my best to feel and look positive. In the mean time, I disregarded my other feelings such as anxiety, frustration, anger, disgust, and sadness that naturally incurred.
Disgust from nausea and vomiting all day and night over a week every time I get the chemotherapy, sadness of losing my female body part, frustration from looking at the fallen hair strands everywhere, unknown anxiety that would not go away with any kind of coping skill, anger of facing my new physical limitation, and most of all, depression from repressing emotional and physical pain.
The Silent Cryout represents the tangled up complex feelings that I never put out in words until now. I started from tearing the paper and simply let my hands express the unspoken feelings. I was true to my feelings this time and my feelings did not allow picking any colors but pick few white papers with various thicknesses and textures. I ruled out thinking and let the touching of the paper be the guidance. And after finishing the art, at last, I was able to leave the past feelings with the past event.
New Wishes, 2020
Chelsea Cota
9" x 11"
mixed media
A significant part of processing my journey with cancer included acknowledging the changes I would have to make, from adjustments in daily routine to major life decisions. I had let go of plans and hopes I originally thought I would have, and learn to look at the necessary changes as new possibilities. This reminded me of the common association between dandelion seeds and hopes and wishes. At the end of one dandelion’s journey, the remaining seeds are whisked away by the unpredictable wind, given a chance to start again.
Dark Energy (Series 1 of 7), 2011-2019
Stella Dunn
8" x 5"
collage
I am a cancer survivor three times over. I lost my father due to cancer. I am an art therapist working with other cancer survivors. Needless to say, cancer is a big part of my personal and professional identity. Even so, I still find new and unexpected ways cancer impacts me. Working with structured materials, such as collage, is a way for me to explore the confusion and uncertainty that cancer evokes. This artwork represents a multitude of losses I have experienced as well as discoveries I have made on my shifting journey through the cancer experience.
Dark Energy (Series 2 of 7), 2011-2019
Stella Dunn
8" x 5"
collage
I am a cancer survivor three times over. I lost my father due to cancer. I am an art therapist working with other cancer survivors. Needless to say, cancer is a big part of my personal and professional identity. Even so, I still find new and unexpected ways cancer impacts me. Working with structured materials, such as collage, is a way for me to explore the confusion and uncertainty that cancer evokes. This artwork represents a multitude of losses I have experienced as well as discoveries I have made on my shifting journey through the cancer experience.
Dark Energy (Series 3 of 7), 2011-2019
Stella Dunn
8" x 5"
collage
I am a cancer survivor three times over. I lost my father due to cancer. I am an art therapist working with other cancer survivors. Needless to say, cancer is a big part of my personal and professional identity. Even so, I still find new and unexpected ways cancer impacts me. Working with structured materials, such as collage, is a way for me to explore the confusion and uncertainty that cancer evokes. This artwork represents a multitude of losses I have experienced as well as discoveries I have made on my shifting journey through the cancer experience.
Dark Energy (Series 4 of 7), 2011-2019
Stella Dunn
8" x 5"
collage
I am a cancer survivor three times over. I lost my father due to cancer. I am an art therapist working with other cancer survivors. Needless to say, cancer is a big part of my personal and professional identity. Even so, I still find new and unexpected ways cancer impacts me. Working with structured materials, such as collage, is a way for me to explore the confusion and uncertainty that cancer evokes. This artwork represents a multitude of losses I have experienced as well as discoveries I have made on my shifting journey through the cancer experience.
Dark Energy (Series 5 of 7), 2011-2019
Stella Dunn
8" x 5"
collage
I am a cancer survivor three times over. I lost my father due to cancer. I am an art therapist working with other cancer survivors. Needless to say, cancer is a big part of my personal and professional identity. Even so, I still find new and unexpected ways cancer impacts me. Working with structured materials, such as collage, is a way for me to explore the confusion and uncertainty that cancer evokes. This artwork represents a multitude of losses I have experienced as well as discoveries I have made on my shifting journey through the cancer experience.
Dark Energy (Series 6 of 7), 2011-2019
Stella Dunn
8" x 5"
collage
I am a cancer survivor three times over. I lost my father due to cancer. I am an art therapist working with other cancer survivors. Needless to say, cancer is a big part of my personal and professional identity. Even so, I still find new and unexpected ways cancer impacts me. Working with structured materials, such as collage, is a way for me to explore the confusion and uncertainty that cancer evokes. This artwork represents a multitude of losses I have experienced as well as discoveries I have made on my shifting journey through the cancer experience.
Dark Energy (Series 7 of 7), 2011-2019
Stella Dunn
8" x 5"
collage
I am a cancer survivor three times over. I lost my father due to cancer. I am an art therapist working with other cancer survivors. Needless to say, cancer is a big part of my personal and professional identity. Even so, I still find new and unexpected ways cancer impacts me. Working with structured materials, such as collage, is a way for me to explore the confusion and uncertainty that cancer evokes. This artwork represents a multitude of losses I have experienced as well as discoveries I have made on my shifting journey through the cancer experience.
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Loss of a Loved One
EXPLORE EXHIBITION
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Hands to heART Introduction
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Art Psychotherapy Group
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Expressive Workshop
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Artists Make Art in Treatment
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The Imagery of Art Therapists Impacted by Cancer