When Dr. Charley Ferrer got down to create an artwork exhibit in honor of breast most cancers sufferers and educate the general public concerning the illness that they combat towards heroically each day, she constructed this exhibit round an emblem of empowered, radiant womanhood: the mermaid.
“The mermaid is gorgeous and powerful—and so is the breast most cancers survivor,” stated Ferrer, a scientific sexologist and award-winning creator of a number of books on breast most cancers. “By displaying mermaids with breast most cancers, I wished to indicate these preventing the illness that they’re nonetheless ladies. And that they’re nonetheless stunning.”
The Breast Most cancers Mermaid Artwork Exhibition, curated by Ferrer’s Most cancers Tamer exhibit, is on show on the decrease degree at The Brooksville Artwork Gallery at 201 Howell Ave, Brooksville, all through July. This artwork exhibition shows pictures of mermaids and mermen residing by varied phases of this illness, together with work, digital artwork, pottery, and shell creations, lots of which have been created by Hernando artists.
“The picture of the mermaid attracts the attention and brings the viewer in,” Ferrer defined. “Then we are able to educate them.”
Many native creatives answered the Breast Most cancers Mermaid Name for Artists by a nationwide artwork competitors! The winner was this space’s personal Johan Casadiego, whose oil portray “Sleek and Stronger” (40” x 30”) depicts a mermaid breast most cancers survivor.
“I wished to characterize a stupendous and powerful mermaid in her personal setting,” stated Casadiego. “She could be very elegant and assured, and though she has a scar on her left breast, she nonetheless retains her magical presence.”
“I wished to create a particular piece that will encourage ladies who’ve most cancers,” he defined. “I wished to make the most of my artwork to indicate my assist in a roundabout way to this vital group created by Dr. Charley Ferrer (Most cancers Tamer).”
Many Breast Most cancers Mermaid artworks debuted in Could on the Hernando Seaside Entrance Porch Artwork Stroll. Below the steerage of organizer Diane Greenwell, Hernando County Effective Arts Council, the artwork stroll performed a fund-raising occasion to profit Most cancers Tamer.
“Hernando Seaside Entrance Porch Artwork Stroll had lots of our common artists take part within the Could 4th occasion, so Hernando Seaside Entrance Porch Artwork Stroll determined to assist our artists and Most cancers Tamer’s efforts,” stated Greenwell. “Hernando Seaside Entrance Porch Artwork Stroll put collectively a fundraiser raffle with 28 artists donating gadgets for a raffle. Two of our native companies, Silver Dolphin Restaurant and Weaver Group Realty, made donations as properly, bringing the overall contribution from Hernando Seaside Entrance Porch Artwork Stroll to $1,210 in 4 hours.”
“We’re appreciative of the donations from native artists to assist this most cancers consciousness program and of our native companies, who made contributions and hosted the occasions,” added Greenwell. “My mom was a breast most cancers survivor of 33 years. I bear in mind the struggles she had and want there would have been extra organizations like Most cancers Tamer she may have turned to. With breast most cancers touching so many lives all of the tales may be informed of how so many teams got here collectively in assist.”
Artists featured within the Breast Most cancers Mermaid Exhibition embrace Johan Casadiego, Robby Smith, Catherine Crippen, Manjit Vohra, Jo M. Orise, Angela Farinelli, Kaytriel Daglia, Tana Jacks, Jordan Tygrett, Anne Doyle; Alicia Lowe; Alyssa Gilleo; Andi Hazelden; Barby Dusky; Sweet Mucciolli; Chris Gallo; Clara Barandica; Dana Watson; Jasmine Cora; Jennifer L. Stahl; Julia Pasqua; Loren Petroccia; Lyn Bechtel; Princess Hyperlink: Robbyn Smith; Roxanne Campbell; Andrea Moulding; Peggy Hughes; and VA Breast Most cancers Group representatives.
Bechtel is a breast most cancers survivor. “I’m most happy with this exhibit, as a breast most cancers survivor, as is my daughter,” she stated. “Something that brings extra consciousness of breast most cancers ought to be advocated, which is why I contributed a watercolor to the exhibit. I’ll encourage everybody to see the exhibit in Brooksville Metropolis Corridor.”
“With this piece, I wished to spotlight the artists who tattoo nipples for many who can not/are not looking for a nipple reconstruction after a mastectomy/lumpectomy/reconstruction,” stated Alyssa Gilleo. “I wished to attempt to characterize a couple of of the completely different choices one could make after surgical procedure in a single art work whereas subconsciously addressing some frequent misconceptions about breast most cancers. I hope this piece helps no less than one survivor really feel seen.
Know there’s no less than a dozen artists who participated on this venture who see you because the ethereal being you’ve at all times been, no matter your present or lasting struggles.”
This venture is private for Tana Jacks of Spring Hill.
“I made this submission in honor of my mother-in-law, Catherine Jacks. She handed away from breast most cancers in 2019, my husband Paul and I moved right here from Michigan to be right here together with her in 2018 and we didn’t get as a lot time together with her as we had hoped to,” she stated. “She fought so exhausting to remain alive and by no means complained. She was the bravest and strongest human being I ever met; breast most cancers remedy is brutal and she or he fought like a champ to the tip. She by no means obtained to ring the bell on the most cancers middle, which is why I confirmed the mermaid together with her hair rising in and her fish associates smiling whereas she rang the bell. I want Catherine may have. She was an artist and has at all times impressed me to color. I miss her a lot.”
Ferrer appreciates the assist of Hernando artists and humanities organizations. “First, I’ve to say that Diane Greenwell was a beautiful inspiration in her willingness to collaborate with us throughout our inaugural Well being Expo and our idea of the Breast Most cancers Mermaid™. This distinctive look into breast most cancers not solely opens the door to artists but in addition to speaking about breast most cancers in all its phases, opening the door to additional understanding and assist. Of significance is the truth that Most cancers Tamer and HBFPAW collaborated, becoming a member of forces for the betterment of our group,” stated Ferrer. “As for Johan Casadiego’s art work….wow….I can’t say sufficient about how wonderful it’s. He not solely gave his character grace and confirmed her interior energy by the vibrantancy of the character, however confirmed how “life” goes on within the background because it was in his portray. I additionally wish to thank the HCFAC for serving to us get the phrase out to artists concerning the Breast Most cancers Mermaid™ Artwork Venture.”
Ferrer seeks artists for a spherical of mermaid murals; write [email protected].
“It’s all about hope,” stated Ferrer.
I’m most happy with this exhibit as a breast most cancers survivor, as is my daughter. Something that brings extra consciousness of breast most cancers ought to be advocated, which is why I contributed a watercolor to the exhibit. I’ll encourage everybody to see the exhibit in Brooksville Metropolis Corridor.
[Photo courtesy of Dr. Charley Ferrer]
