Chemo Today The economy started its downward spiral in 2008, and sales of my paintings were VERY slow. When I saw the call for applications for the Regional Arts Project Grant, RAPG , I decided to pursue it. Writing the grant application got me thinking about the project I had proposed, "Chemo Today". Quite often I paint on gessoed Lenox paper. Attempting to capture the conflict a woman facing chemo each day has, I did a series of paintings that I named "Hoping". I gave them women's names in an alphabetic progression. I have painted Abby, Beth, Claire and Donna, so far. My first decision was that the piece was not going to be limited to painting. My original proposal was a triptych. Cancer is not an idea or a belief. It's up close and very personal. A closet seemed to fit the bill. My sister-in-law, Bobbi Lambert was diagnosed with Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) in February, 2008. She contributed scarves, belts, hats, wigs, etc., and insight. We decided to focus on just one day. Well, actually, the discouraging moment when a woman gathers herself to face this day. There are many elements represented in the closet, including the five senses. One prayer box on the exterior of the closet provides an introduction to the piece. Open the doors and turn the light on. The left hand door addresses the strange thing that happens with time. The right hand door has a portrait of the strange being who has hijacked her face. The pieces of the broken mirror are flying out from it, the way her life feels, shattered.
The biggest thing I learned from this project was collaboration. In the beginning I would reject other people's ideas out of hand. Then at night I would be trying to sleep when I realized that I'd been given the answer and had rejected it. I got good at apologizing and much better at listening. I would like to thank Al Gore for inventing the internet, and my son for setting up my blog. You can see my fits, starts, other thoughts, and progress on my website under Works in Progress, at www.SusanLivengood.com/blog.
I would like to thank my collaborators.
Many of the personal items in the closet are from Bobbi. In the future I hope that people will add a memento, something that is symbolic of their experience with chemo.
Chemo Today is dedicated to Bobbi Lambert, 1949-2009.
Susan Livengood, May, 2009
This project was funded, in part, by a Regional Artist Project Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, administered by the Arts Council of Henderson County. |
