As he takes a light swipe of vibrant color and dilutes the paint with a dip in water, cancer survivor Harry B. Rich has no pain as he sits working contently in his Freeland home studio.
Rich’s work adorns the poster for the seventh annual “Aliveness Through Cancer: Art Celebrating Healing” cancer art show and reception, to be held Friday and Saturday at the Greenbank Farm. The artists reception will be 7-9 p.m. Friday, with the art show held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
The show is meant as an opportunity for cancer survivors, support persons and those who work with people who have cancer to share with the community the life changing impact cancer has had on their lives, according to show chair Carla Jolley.
“We hope to bring to the community’s attention what it’s like being a cancer survivor and how cancer affects more than just the person who has it,” she said.
It began seven years ago simply with pieces by a traveling artist and an invitation for locals to join in the show — about a handful heeded the call.
In recent years, participation numbers have jumped to 30-40 artists on average, but even that is never enough Jolley said.
“People are shy to participate because they don’t see themselves as artists,” she said. “But the whole point is to tell their story and that can be done even in the simplest ways, and even in crayon or a poem.”
Art on display will include everything from paintings, sculpture, pottery, quilts and poetry. Survivors have even gotten creative and decorated their masks they wore during radiation treatments.
“People tell their story in their own creative way,” Jolley said. “Art is a form of expression that allows them to define their journey in their own way, express their feelings, reflect, and even show gratitude to their caregivers.”
Last year, a breast cancer survivor in her 20s created a collage of pictures of her journey through treatment. Having lost her hair due to radiation treatments, she was was in the center smiling.
“It’s gotten a little more elaborate each year,” Jolley said. “Some of the artists are professionals, but others are just survivors who want to participate in any way they can.”
The reception Friday evening will be a time for patients, family, caregivers and health professionals to meet. The public is invited to hear stories of healing, triumph and endurance.
The event will be catered by the Whidbey Pies Café and will include an opportunity for wine tasting by donation.
Entertainment will be by Amaranth, with its eclectic mix of music, from Celtic to classical. The Whidbey Island-based band is Barbara Dunn on vocals and guitar, Barbara Phillips on electric bass and flutes and Ann Dannhauer on fiddle.
Lisa Twome, a nurse in the oncology unit at Whidbey General Hospital, will perform the song “Through the Door,” which she wrote about caring for cancer patients.
The show is also a party for the staff of the oncology/MAC unit at Whidbey General Hospital. The renovations to Whidbey General, completed this spring, allowed the oncology unit to expand.
Formerly, the unit was one open room where patients had to share space and privacy with each other. Now, the oncology/MAC unit is three times the size, and semi-private cubicals and two exam rooms bring back their privacy. Education programs are also expanding in the unit that sees an average of 700 patients per month, according to MAC nurse Renee Yanke.
“We’re not just treating the patients,” she said. “We’re treating the family and the people around them, and the education is an important part of this.”
