Viola Moriarty, 1958 – 2013
Live your life my oncologist says
Nicole P, 2012
Category Archives: cancer art
More creative
Dear Readers,
Ultra Sounds Mondays is on hold for a while. But in the meantime, I look forward to carrying on with the conversation. You will continue to find here reflections on my own experiences as well as the creative activities of others that I am fortunate enough to discover. Today I have some wonderful gems to share. Enjoy!
Sam
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Take a look at this amazing show of art work from young people with cancer. It’s organized by a group called the Middle East Cancer Coalition. If anything has a hope of bringing about peace in the middle east it is this kind of collaboration towards a common cause.
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I’ve seen several creative bra art shows, but this show from Brazil is my favourites.
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You can now view the winners of the 2012 Arts Awards of Cancer Council Victoria (Australia) and vote for the people’s choice awards.
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The Max Foundation also has a yearly international art competition. See the Colors of Hope Gallery for some amazing art and messages from artists around the world.
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And just for fun, here’s a link to Leo Sewells’s wonderful art made from junk.
My very own copy
Ultra Sounds Mondays, November 5, 2012
Good morning everyone. It’s a cold day here in Ontario, Canada. I’m pulling out my longjohns tonight!
No new posts for you today I am sad to say (c’mon people, I’m waiting to hear from you!) So instead I thought I would post some links to previous contributors, so you can catch up on what they are up to.
Amy Marash has a great new cartoon here.
More wonderful work from Anna Moriarty Lev here.
Barbara Crooker’s poem “November, Sky Full of Bruises” could have been written for me. It make me think back to a November 12 years ago.
Dorit Fuhg has added to her portfolio of Art for Cancer prints - gorgeous.
Check out the latest works of my hero Viola Moriarty here.
Charles Phelps-Penry posted a newer cancer poem in July that I really like.
Well there’s a start. It’s a fertile bunch of creators that have posted over this last year. I would love to post your creative work. Take a look at submissions guidelines and keep the creativity flowing.
Enjoy the rest of your Monday.
Sam
Ultra Sounds Monday, October 1, 2012
Good day all and happy October!
Today I offer you another couple of gems from Viola Moriarty. I love Viola’s paintings and I love Viola even though I have never met her in person. I connect to the colour and lines and the feeling of the painting and they seem to me to be portholes into her personality (as much as I know her so far). You should go right this minute and check out her collection at http://www.violamoriarty.com/ (and notice what a beautiful bald head she has – I drool in envy - mine wasn’t so pretty).
Enjoy
Sam
In her own words:
“Physicists tell us that the very act of seeing changes us, and changes the object of our perception. I paint
solely and directly from life largely because of this energetic exchange between the seer and the seen.
Creative process is perceiving information and deciding how to personally engage that information; it is
this process that most interests me. Painting is also hard work. It requires a particular kind of focus and
energy. When I step to the easel, I feel I was born for this work. All my liabilities—my tenacity, boldness,
tender heart, passion and insatiable curiosity–become my assets. When I am painting, I feel like myself.
Nature is my sweetest and most demanding teacher, and it is to her that I am most grateful.”
Viola Moriarty
Nicole P
By Viola Moriarty
Things Happen
By Viola Moriarty
Ultra Sounds Monday, Sept 24, 2012
Happy Monday all,
This week I am happy to present another painting by Gina Duque. I hope you all went to take a look at her website after the last submission. If not, please do take a look at the many wonderful ways in which she sees the world.
Enjoy!
Sam
In her own words:
About the Artist
Whether it’s through prints like ‘Calypso’ or paintings like ‘Eukarya’, the essence of my work stems from creating mystical images inspired by cellular biology, the concept of healing and my interest in exploring the spiritual connection between the body and mind. I am currently using images derived from medical imaging technology to portray cells, tissues and systems of the human body.
During the last two and a half years of my cancer treatment, creating artworks has become a therapeutic and fulfilling process, eventually evolving into a spiritual and mindful practice.
Gina Duque is an emerging artist currently attending the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario for her Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours Degree. Originally from Cali, Colombia, she immigrated to Canada with her mother at the age of eleven to Walkerton, Ontario.
About ‘Rebirth ‘
‘Rebirth’ is an abstract painting inspired by the Phoenix, a mythical creature that ignites on fire at the end of its life cycle and arises from its ashes to be reborn again. This is a powerful piece that for me signifies closing a painful, yet wisdom filled period in my life where I’ve gained so many life lessons not only from this experience but also from the many courageous, inspiring cancer patients I have met along the way. Now taking the ashes of my last chapter to construct another, I begin anew feeling stronger than ever with a renewed perspective on life that has truly enabled me to live life to its fullest.
Art for Cancer Foundation Gala
The Art for Cancer Foundation in Toronto continues to be very active. You can follow them (and even better you can like them on Facebook – they are trying to reach 500 ‘likes’).
A gala evening is being held on October 27th as a major fundraiser for the programs that they run. View their website for more information. You could have a gourmet meal, entertainment and dancing and raise money for a good cause.
The next workshop with acrylic paints is September 24 in Toronto. For more information follow this link.
And most exciting (because it has to do with me of course) is the upcoming publication of the book In Their Words, Through Their Eyes, By Their Hands. This book is a collection of art and writing from participants and supporters of the Art for Cancer Foundation Programs. And yes, you will find my painting and one of my poems in this book (and yes I am happy to autograph as many copies as you want.) Here is the trailer for the book (This link will also take you to further information)
Sam
Ultra Sounds Monday, September 10, 2012
Happy Monday to all. Today I am pleased to share with you the work of an artist I recently met online. I saw Gina Duque’s art on the cover of the journal Current Oncology and was blown away. (Every month this journal features a different artist – be sure to check out their archives. )
I’m going to tempt you with one painting today and you can look forward to others at a later date. To read more about Gina and see more of her work you can click here. Her works are for sale as well. Enjoy!
Sam
In her own words:
About the Artist
Whether it’s through prints like ‘Calypso’ or paintings like ‘Eukarya’, the essence of my work stems from creating mystical images inspired by cellular biology, the concept of healing and my interest in exploring the spiritual connection between the body and mind. I am currently using images derived from medical imaging technology to portray cells, tissues and systems of the human body.
During the last two and a half years of my cancer treatment, creating artworks has become a therapeutic and fulfilling process, eventually evolving into a spiritual and mindful practice.
Gina Duque is an emerging artist currently attending the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario for her Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours Degree. Originally from Cali, Colombia, she immigrated to Canada with her mother at the age of eleven to Walkerton, Ontario.
About ‘Eukarya’
“Eukarya,” is a mixed media painting that explores the concept of the body as the ultimate self-regenerating system through the power of visualization and the mind -body connection. Fantastical in nature, “Eukarya” is a symbol for vibrant, radiant health that arises from the harmonious balance between the mind, body and soul.
Eukarya
by Gina Duque
Ultra Sounds Monday, July 9, 2012
Hello everyone,
My apologies for the quietness of the blog these days. It’s these sluggish summer days. You could peel me off the couch when it’s as hot as it has been lately in Southern Ontario. Once the cooler weather arrives, I will be back in full swing.
Today’s submission comes from Kelly Thorarinson,a lovely woman I met at an Art for Cancer Workshop. I love the colours and texture of this painting as well as the title and what it represents. Do check out Kelly’s other work and her blog.
In her own words:
Re: Resolving the Screening dilemma
I worked on this piece through Art for Cancer Foundation’s 5 week workshop. I call it resolving the screening dilemma as that is actually part of a typewritten piece that is visible under all the colour and texture…. a newspaper clipping. That is how I first decided to name this piece, but really there is so much more. Those words resonate with me because there is complexity to cancer treatment. Even as a stage 1 breast cancer patient where treatment is fairly straightforward, there are still many questions. One, of which, is about screening as the very screening methods and treatment for breast cancer can also cause cancer. Sure is a dilemma. The other aspect of the title is that in doing art I was able to solve the dilemmas of cancer by giving them a voice and hours of escape through art. More of my art can be found at www.abelcreation.com and I write a blog at www.chrysalis2butterflywings.blogspot.com
The Screening Dilemma
by Kelly Thorarinson
Ultra Sounds Monday, June 11, 2012
Hello and good day on this hot and sticky day in Southern Ontario, Canada.
Today’s submission is a drawing with accompanying text from a chapbook by Julianne Davis of the U.K. . You can read the whole chapbook at http://issuu.com/outmastirie/docs/9thaprilpdf I like the juxtaposition of the airy, la-di-daa title and picture set against the image of mutating cancer cells and the strong ending statement.
Julianne’s bio:
My Cancer Cells Are Beautiful is the title of an expression of feelings, thoughts and dreams through poetry and art, upon my diagnosis of cancer.
I was born in Bristol, United Kingdom. I am a mother to two children.
My Cancer Cells Are Beautiful
by Julianne Davis
This was the first picture I drew
after finishing my treatment.
One day I was looking at some pictures
of cancer cells and I
was thinking how beautiful
they looked.
The way they moved, mutated and
multiplied.
A stunning catalyst of cells,
dispersing like shooting stars,
mutating everything it touches.
I hate you.
