telling our stories through word and image 2019 anthology€¦ · i enjoyed painting the birdhouse...
TRANSCRIPT
2019 Anthology
Telling Our Stories Through Word and Image
Patients, Loved Ones, Staff and Volunteers Present Their Original Work
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COVER ART:
SEASONS OF HOPE Acrylic on Canvas by Lisa Gardner
- See more work by this artist and read her statement on pages 72 and 73.
ANTHOLOGY DESIGN: Michelle Belinda Davis
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY: Kimberly Alexandra Davis
NOTE: The individual writers and artists hold the copyrights for
their own work in this anthology.
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Welcome to the Telling Our Stories through Word and Image 2019 Anthology, a collection created
by patients, loved ones, staff and volunteers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center.
We believe the opportunity to express oneself creatively has the capacity to promote healing and
are honored to share this heart-felt collection with you.
Our Creative Arts Program is a joint project between Norris Cotton Cancer Center and D-H Arts.
This popular program consists of one-on-one visits and group activities with a writer, visual artist
and a musician. Having a team of artists-in-residence available to our patients and their families is
a rare gift and is made possible through the support of philanthropy. We thank the Cancer Center
Administration, the Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center and the individual donors who make
possible a patient arts program through which so many can benefit.
In addition, the staff of Patient and Family Support Services is grateful to D-H Arts and Marianne
Barthel, whose resourceful vision increases our capacity to reach patients throughout DHMC.
Finally, we acknowledge the dedication of our creative arts staff, Marv Klassen-Landis, Samantha
Wiebkin and Margaret Stephens and our many creative arts volunteers, for inspiring hope and
healing, one person at a time.
Thank you for honoring our artists with your attention. To have one’s artistic expression
witnessed, listened to or seen by others is a rare and profound gift.
To all those who stepped forward with art pieces, stories, songs, poems and a willingness to share
a part of yourself with all of us, we dedicate this collection to you.
With Gratitude,
Andrea & Michelle
Andrea Buccellato, Manager
Michelle B. Davis, Resource Specialist
Patient and Family Support Services, Norris Cotton Cancer Center
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Why do patients and supporters create art , write songs, poems, stories and journal entries?
Scattered throughout this anthology, you will find some of the reasons :
“…. I feel compelled to evaluate my life….” Daniel P. Richardson
“….Allowing it to dribble out of my mind onto these pages. And accepting what I see.” Dave
Dolan
“I cast it all to the wind—I just like the sound of that, so I wrote it—let’s see where this goes….”
Win Hathaway
“….I write. It is private, I can say what I want to, when I need to and only share it if I desire. It is a
release, like air from a balloon. The pressure builds and I write…. Writing grounds me and enables
me to let the feelings flow, but at the same time keep them in a neat and tidy little box….” Name
Withheld
“Painting is a passion of mine. I have discovered any kind relaxes me….” Trudy Savage
“This is my third year enjoying the NCCC monthly art class. I continue to be inspired and find
healing in the experience….with a group of people who are inspiring also.” Betsey Peale
“…. When I am making things, problems disappear. I become more focused on the process. It’s
like mindfulness and meditation….” Karen Guetti
The Creative Arts Team offers art, writing and storytelling workshops, as well as individual
sessions with harpist Margaret Stephens, visual artist Sam Wiebkin and storyteller/writer Marv
Klassen-Landis. No prior experience is required and services are free of charge. For more
information, please check out the Patient and Family Support Services brochure calendar, call
603-650-7751 or email [email protected] .
Sam, Margaret and Marv
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The Reception
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*This is one entry from Kerry Clifford’s blog Cancered Plans, which can be followed at
https://canceredplans.substack.com/.
Kerry Clifford
Telling Our Stories 2019
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“Birds of a feather,” that’s what you could have called us. A group of people coming together to relax and remove ourselves from the stressors of our daily lives by painting birdhouses. This was our first art class with Samantha Wiebkin from Norris Cotton Cancer Center. What an outstanding experience! We were painting the birdhouses, chatting, smiling, sharing. Some people had been coming monthly for a while and knew the experiences of others. Others chose to ask questions about what they were going through. Others chose not to speak at all and just absorb the relaxed camaraderie. Our skill levels varied, but our birdhouses brought us together. Thanks!
Ruth Dixon-Vestal
PAINTED BIRDHOUSE by Ruth Dixon-Vestal
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STRONGER THAN YOU THINK Acrylic on Canvas by Rita Tingle
I think this piece depicts the strength we all seem to find to deal with
our illness. Isn’t it great that it exists in all of us!
Rita Tingle
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Preparing to take the stage
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Dr. Tom Davis performs I’ll Touch Your Heart
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Sharing songs, stories,
poems and dreams
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Photography by Sharon Grader
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Benjamin Gwilt
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PAINTED BIRDHOUSE by Trudy Savage
REUNION OF HEARTS Acrylic on Canvas by Trudy Savage
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Painting is a passion of mine. I have discovered any kind relaxes me. This year, I had the opportunity to participate in Art Outlet workshops. I have enjoyed the variety of crafts that Samantha Wiebkin has provided. I probably would not have experienced painting a collectible bird house, making a wire tree with beads sun catcher, or a clay bowl, otherwise.
Trudy Savage
APPLE HARVEST Acrylic on Canvas by Trudy Savage
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When, during the course of a recent art session working with clay, my coil pot collapsed, I decided to mold it all into two dolphins. Why dolphins? Since early on in my life, I’ve had an admiration for intelligent creatures, like dolphins, like whales, like elephants, who have resourcefully managed their intelligence, while being sensitive to other beings, and without periodically resorting to genocide.
Alan Shulman
WHY DOLPHINS? Clay Figures by Alan Shulman
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LOVE CONNECTION Acrylic on Canvas by Betsey Peale This painting is in loving memory of my daughter, Laura, who passed away in 2003. She was a kind and loving person, who connected with animals and people from all walks of life, with encouragement and understanding. She remains lovingly in our hearts.
This is my third year enjoying the NCCC monthly art class. I continue to be inspired and find healing in the experience – painting on canvas and wooden bird houses, molding clay, with a group of people who are inspiring also.
Betsey Peale
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BUTTERFLY OF HOPE Acrylic on Canvas by Betsey Peale In one of our art classes, we were asked to do a “dot” painting. Never having done this before, I decided to put the background in blue, my favorite color, add white dots, then the darker blue dots. It needed “life,” so I added the butterfly, which symbolized, for me, my spirit within me, carrying me through all the stages that life can bring, into comfort, hope and peace.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS Decoupage on Canvas by Betsey Peale
In our decoupage class, I chose the heart first, and the rest all fell into place. Home
has always been important to me. From the home I grew up in, to the apartment, and then the home with my husband and
children. Our children grew up and moved out, and when my husband passed away, it
became just a house and not a home.
Later, I remarried, and started a whole new life with a new family, blending with
the lives of my two children and their families. Family is the heart of the home.
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TREE OF LIFE by Karen Guettti
I love to make things. First and foremost, I am a knitter. I find it relaxing and it is fun to have a finished product. I’ve always liked the Tree of Life and I was excited to find out that was the project for the day. It was an organic process for me. I didn’t plan anything. When I got the branches out to the edge of the circle, I left them to snip off later. Then I decided to leave them. They represent the possibilities of continued growth. It’s not ending, still alive. I enjoyed painting the birdhouse and making the book. But, it is intimidating to fill the pages. I’ve always loved books and paper. When I am making things, problems disappear. I become more focused on the process. It’s like mindfulness and meditation. In Art Outlet, Sam gives me the structure I need and the freedom I need to express myself.
Karen Guetti
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PAINTED BIRDHOUSE by Karen Guetti
HANDBOUND BOOKS by Karen Guetti
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*The full autobiography is available at Lulu.com.
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LIFE OF OPPORTUNITY Decoupage on Canvas by Lisa Gardner
BEHIND THE TREE Acrylic on Canvas by Lisa Gardner
GROWING FISH OF JOY Tree of Life by Lisa Gardner
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My name is Lisa Gardner. I am a 46-year-old wife, mother, art hobbyist, and special education para educator. I was diagnosed over a year ago with terminal stage IV stomach cancer and have had an interesting long recovery to get back to living my life. I have always loved art and originally wanted to be an art teacher years ago before my life went in a different direction. The Art Outlet was a wonderful opportunity to relax, talk and encourage others going through cancer, and remember how much I love creating art. After my initial diagnosis on February 28, 2018, doctors told me I had a year maybe two to live. A little over a year later, with lots of prayers, dietary changes, cryotherapy, and immunotherapy, my last PET scan, March 27, 2019, showed no sign of disease! Thanking God for each day and to continue to heal others with cancer. May this give you hope to carry through.
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Enjoying the art
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Tell your story through words…
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and images...
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SAVE THE DATE!
We hope you will join us for our next
annual Telling Our Stories event
on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
The Creative Arts Program at Norris Cotton Cancer Center
and Dartmouth-Hitchcock offers visual art-making,
creative writing, storytelling and therapeutic harp music
to patients and family members at no charge
thanks to the generous donations of individuals
and organizations who support arts-based
outreach throughout the year.