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Oncology on Canvas

By Holly Ames

Local artists are featured in an international exhibit for cancer awareness. Oncology on Canvas

Published: Thu, October 04, 2007 - 3:12 pm Last Updated: Thu, October 04, 2007 - 3:26 pm

An exhibit called "Oncology On Canvas: Expressions of a Woman's Cancer Journey" will fill the Eastern Shore Art Center Friday night during Fairhope First Friday Art Walk. The works of four local artists are included in the 75 piece exhibit. One of the artists is sculptor James Hood of Point Clear.

James Hood thought there was only one person in his life who had battled breast cancer. Her name is Norma. She lives in Oregon. They've been friends for 45 years and she's a 17 year breast cancer survivor.

For years, James thought Norma was his only real connection to the fight against breast cancer. Last year he bought a calendar for his friend that would prove him wrong. It featured cancer survivors from the Eastern Shore. He knew six of them.

Not long after that, some of his friends from the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope asked him to get involved in breast cancer awareness by creating a sculpture. He was hesitant at first, but went on to create a female torso that had undergone a mastectomy.

Before his work went on display, Hood asked one of his survivor friends for an opinion on the work. Hood says, "She walked in the door of my studio. She just stopped and stared at it. Then she looked at me and she said James it's beautiful. She got kind of teary eyed and i got kind of teary eye."

His friend told him there was just one thing missing, a scar. He added a scar and the work was complete and ready for a name. He named it Norma in honor of his good friend in Oregon. It's now on display in her living room.

A picture of the sculpture will be part of the 2007 Lily Oncology on Canvas Tour. You can see the 75 pieces at the Eastern Shore Art Center on October 5th during Fairhope First Friday Art Walk. After that the exhibit will move to Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. It will be there from October 8th through the 13th from 8 in the morning to 5 in the evening.

The Oncology on Canvas tour is sponsored by Lilly Oncology International Art Competition and Exhibition in partnership with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

Thomas Hospital Women's Best is hosing the exhibit to help raise awareness of cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.