Winning Entry from Oncology On Canvas(SM) Art Competition Depicts Survivorship Despite Breast Cancer; Wholeness Despite Mastecto
23 October 2008 - 11:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Regis and Joy Philbin Hosted Awards Ceremony NEW YORK, Oct. 23
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Created by a painter's knife instead of a
paintbrush, the acrylic painting, "As I Am, Beautiful and Whole,"
took first prize in the third biennial Oncology On Canvas(SM):
Expressions of a Cancer Journey Art Competition and Exhibition last
night. The awards presentation, held at New York City's The Altman
Building, was hosted by Regis ("Live With Regis and Kelly") and Joy
Philbin. Oncology On Canvas is presented by Eli Lilly and Company
in partnership with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
(NCCS). Amid a backdrop of more than 300 acrylics, oils, pastels,
photographs, watercolors and mixed media entries, architect Nikko
Shabtai, of Beverly Hills, Calif., accepted the "Best of
Exhibition" trophy. An award of $10,000 was donated to his cancer
charity of choice, the Cancer Schmancer Foundation, which was
founded by actress Fran Drescher and educates women on the risk
factors and early detection of women's cancers. In all, Lilly
Oncology On Canvas awarded 26 prizes to 22 cancer charities
selected by the 19 winners in various categories. Richard Gaynor,
M.D., vice president of cancer research and global oncology
platform leader for Lilly, and Cathy Bonner, president and chief
executive officer of NCCS, presented the awards. The finale event
also launched a national tour of the artwork in hospitals, cancer
centers, patient advocacy group meetings and other venues,
beginning with a free public exhibit today at The Altman Building
(log on to http://www.lillyoncologyoncanvas.com/ to learn more
about Oncology On Canvas). Shabtai's painting, entitled, "As I Am,
Beautiful and Whole," depicts a woman who appears to have undergone
a mastectomy. But it didn't start out that way. "I was painting the
model in my painting workshop when I picked up my knife instead of
a brush and painted her without a breast," Shabtai explained.
Shabtai later realized that his subconscious inspiration for this
piece was the breast cancer diagnosis, and subsequent mastectomy,
that a family member had recently experienced. A fellow workshop
participant noted that the painting was perfect as is, and Shabtai
found himself agreeing that the woman he portrayed was, indeed,
"beautiful and whole." "I find painting incredibly liberating and
therapeutic," said Shabtai. "And I hope that this work offers a
measure of hope to all who see it." The artwork also won first
prize in two additional categories -- "Best Overall Entry by a
Family Member, Friend or Caregiver" and "Best Acrylic Entry by a
Family Member, Friend or Caregiver" -- resulting in two additional
$1,000 donations: one to weSPARK Cancer Support Center (a
California-based center that provides free support services to
those affected by cancer), and the other to Pancreatic Cancer
Action Network (a national organization dedicated to increasing
pancreatic cancer research, supporting patients and providing
hope). Second prize in the "Best of Exhibition" category went to
Elizabeth Menges, an artist and high school art teacher from
Boston, Mass., for her artwork, "C. in Bedroom." Menges' work is a
series of six small oil paintings that detail the morning dressing
routine of a breast cancer survivor who has had a mastectomy. The
work also won "Best Oil by a Family Member, Friend or Caregiver."
Menges accepted a total donation of $6,000 on behalf of Cancer
Connection, based in Florence, Mass., a cancer support organization
offering free support programs that complement traditional medical
treatments for patients, their families and caregivers. "Cancer,
particularly for women who have undergone a mastectomy, can make
them feel vulnerable," said Menges. "My work attempts to honor
their quiet dignity and beauty." There was a tie for third prize in
the "Best of Exhibition" category between "Moons In The Wind," a
mixed media work created by Barbara E. Litke (a New York City
artist, art teacher and cancer survivor), and "Traces," a
photomontage by Nash Hyon (an artist from Wilton, Conn., whose
husband succumbed to lung cancer in 1992). Litke's entry was also
named "Best Overall Entry by a Person Diagnosed with Cancer" and
"Best Mixed Media by a Person Diagnosed with Cancer." Litke
accepted a donation of $2,500 on behalf of Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center (a leading cancer hospital and research facility in
New York City), and $2,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
-- New York City Chapter (an organization that funds research and
support for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and
myeloma). Hyon's entry was also awarded "Best Photograph by a
Family Member, Friend or Caregiver," and she accepted a donation of
$3,500 for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, founded by the late Paul
Newman, which provides a camp experience (free of charge) to
children with cancer and other illnesses. Oncology On Canvas was
created by Lilly in 2004 to honor the journeys people face when
confronted by a cancer diagnosis. The biennial competition invites
people diagnosed with any type of cancer -- and their families,
friends, caregivers and health care providers -- to express,
through art and narrative, the life-affirming changes that give
their cancer journey meaning. Nearly 600 entries were submitted for
the 2008 competition from the United States and Puerto Rico. "It is
almost a misnomer to call this a competition," said NCCS's Bonner.
"Everyone who is a part of it takes something positive away from
the experience -- be it the relief of putting his or her feelings
about cancer on canvas, or the joy of eyeing a piece from the
exhibition and thinking, 'I'm not alone; someone else understands
how I feel.'" Lilly's Dr. Gaynor concurred: "We created Oncology On
Canvas as a service for those touched by cancer, but each year it
is we who are inspired, humbled and awed by the outpouring of art
and expression." National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)
NCCS is a pioneer in the cancer survivorship movement, providing
tools and resources for people with cancer to navigate their
experience and to advocate for themselves. NCCS also advocates at
the federal level for quality cancer care for all Americans. For
more information about NCCS, please visit
http://www.canceradvocacy.org/ or call 1.888.650-9127. Lilly
Oncology, a Division of Eli Lilly and Company For more than four
decades, Lilly Oncology has been dedicated to delivering innovative
solutions that improve the care of people living with cancer.
Because no two cancer patients are alike, Lilly Oncology is
committed to developing novel treatment approaches. Our quest is to
develop a broad portfolio of tailored therapies that accelerate the
pace and progress of cancer care. To learn more about Lilly
Oncology's commitment to cancer, please visit
http://www.lillyoncology.com/ . Eli Lilly and Company Lilly, a
leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing
portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical
products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide
laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific
organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, Lilly
provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some
of the world's most urgent medical needs. (Logo:
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http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company
CONTACT: Judy Kay Moore of Eli Lilly and Company, Office:
+1-317-277-6265, Mobile: +1-317-440-1230, ; or Neil Hochman of CPR
Worldwide for Eli Lilly and Company, Office: +1-212-453-2067,
Mobile: +1-516-784-9089, Web site:
http://www.lillyoncologyoncanvas.com/ http://www.lillyoncology.com/
http://www.canceradvocacy.org/
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