Telling Our Stories

through Word and Image

Patients, Loved Ones and Staff

Present Their Original Work

2017 Anthology

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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.

COVER ART:

Nature’s Verbiage

Acrylic by Betsey Peale

- See artist’s statement on page 47.

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Welcome to the Telling Our Stories through Word and Image 2017 Anthology, a collection

created by patients, loved ones and staff 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 the D-H

Arts Program. This popular program consists of visits and groups with a visual artist, musician

and writer. 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. Together, we are proud to announce that the Creative Arts Program was

recently selected for the 2017 New Hampshire Governor's Award for Arts in Healthcare.

Finally, we acknowledge the dedication of our creative arts staff, Marv Klassen-Landis, Chris

Orcutt Henderson and Margaret Stephens, and volunteers, Laura Foley and Kit Farnsworth,

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 Buccellato, Manager

Michelle B. Davis, Resource Specialist

Patient and Family Support Services

Norris Cotton Cancer Center

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Most of the patients, loved ones and staff who have contributed to this anthology have

been touched profoundly by cancer. As you might expect, some of the writing and art

deals with diagnosis, treatments, side effects, choices, losses, hopes, healing. But as so

many patients have said to me, cancer is part of my life but my life is so much more.

The art and writing in these pages also share so much more: Fall foliage, winter birches,

thawing ice. Apple blossoms and gardens, thunder storms. Holey socks and snow blowers,

butterflies and moths. Ashes. Miracles. Cliffs and canyons, ladders and dreams and

applesauce. Lady Gaga, an imaginary rock in the sky, death, God, the moon. The bathroom

of a 737. Dust balls. Wanting.

Still waters and waterfalls, open doors, a bridge and golden light. The happiest giraffe you

will ever meet. Spider webs and fog and sun and paths through the woods. Hope and love,

tears and laughter, gratitude. Our whole selves.

In our Writing Circles at Norris Cotton Cancer Center, we do spontaneous writing and then

read aloud. Recently one participant said to another, “Thank you for what you just read! I

have had that feeling for years and have never been able to put it into words. And now I have

the words.” That’s what this anthology is all about: With visual art and stories and poetry and

reflections, we share together that which cannot be explained yet resonates deeply within.

Marv Klassen-Landis, Creative Writing Specialist

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The music, reception, art, performances and readings…

all of the makings of a beautiful evening for

Telling Our Stories 2017

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Wings of Hope

Acrylic by Trudy Savage

I began painting at a young age. Like life itself, painting is a journey. My paintings are my voice, a powerful interpretation of my deepest thoughts and hidden emotions, shape and color follow. Each painting is unique. “Wings of Hope” is a painting based on the journey of the Monarch butterfly. Every autumn, the Monarch butterflies gather by the thousands and fly away in a group. Some of them fly only a few hundred miles. Others fly far into the southern part of the United States. In the spring, some of these migrating butterflies return to the North Country to start the life cycle over – the egg stage, the larva stage, the pupa stage and the adult stage.

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Trees Around the Pond in the Spring Acrylic by Margaret Adams

Spring is a time of renewal and new growth. New buds and flowers give us hope of warm summer days.

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Climbing to the Top

Acrylic by Trudy Savage

My interest in painting started at a young age, when I got watercolor paints in my Christmas stocking. More currently, I have been using acrylic paints, which is another way to express myself. Each piece I create is spontaneous and shows my love of nature. Getting outside is good for the soul. “Climbing to the Top” is a painting about my journey in cancer treatment some seven years ago and trying to stay healthy to enjoy life.

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Maple in Full Color

Pastel by Robin Nuse

- See artist’s statement on page 30.

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Ice Breaking Up Sunset

Pastel by Robin Nuse

I have been a practicing artist since 1991. In 2015, I was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, and have been in the unusual position of feeling vigorous and fine while I have been in treatment to eliminate the tiny tumors that are in my lungs. I have had a partial response to a year’s course of immunotherapy, and now have started a targeted therapy called Braf inhibitors aimed at eliminating the tumors. Throughout these treatments, I have maintained my working schedule in my studio that is in my home. I work in both pastels and oils, depending on the subject matter. My subjects range from barns to figures in action in the landscape. My subject matter has not been affected by my illness, because my attitude has been to carry on everything I was doing prior to my diagnosis. However, when I am drawing or painting, it is a very cathartic experience for me, and especially so during these two years of anxiety and uncertainty. I consider it part of my treatment plan to have those hours in the studio when I can have a respite from pills and phone calls and appointments and let some of the angst out while creating. I am exhibiting my work currently at the Hanover Inn and Pompanoosuc Mills showroom in Hanover. I also have two galleries in which I exhibit in northern Vermont and have a web site, www.robinnuse.com.

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Lightning

Acrylic by Tabatha Manley

I kept myself so busy being ‘normal’ during treatment that weekends were relegated to doing very little. It was with great eagerness that I finally felt up to signing up for the Art Space studio as my fatigue ebbed. I didn’t come with anything in mind, but flipping through some books and calendars, was inspired by a lightning scene, which reminded me of my youth, watching in awe, from the relative safety of our porch, as storms came across a nearby lake. The scene is fictional, but reminiscent of a dusty memory…the leaves turn, the breeze picks up, the sky turns dark and only the faintest outline can be seen until the brilliant, all powerful, awesome lightning bolt lights up the sky, painting it and the water with eerie, beautiful, haunting hues; and each crash of booming thunder rattles the old house as we count the seconds, guessing the distance of the strikes. I was awed by both the beauty and power of these storms.

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The Peaches

Acrylic by Janabeth Manley

Peaches is a giraffe with a squishy face. She likes the snow and taking selfies in the snow. I like giraffes and selfies in the snow. Peaches is a little different from all the other giraffes. She is UNIQUE. That’s kind of how I feel sometimes, too.

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Still Water

Pastel by Kit Farnsworth

“There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -

the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” - Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder

Being in nature has a healing effect on us. Witnessing a beautiful sunrise, seeing the brilliant autumn reds on a hillside, and listening to the rhythm of breaking waves or the honking of geese in flight can transport us emotionally to a quieter, more appreciative place. It awakens our senses and has a positive impact on our health and happiness. Given our hectic, often stressful lives and the competing distractions and demands of technology, it is even more essential that we connect with our natural surroundings. My art reflects my appreciation for nature. Through my paintings, I try to capture a feeling of calm and a sense of wonder for the beauty around us. The Upper Valley, with its river valleys, rolling hills and farmland, offers many inspirational vistas. I am particularly drawn to architecture in nature, serpentine waterways, local flora and fauna, and the daily scenes of barnyards and meadows. I use a variety of mediums: watercolors, oils and pastels. I also enjoy plein air painting and the challenges of capturing constantly changing light, seeing color and dealing with the elements. I have been influenced by many artists, most notably, my mother, Nancy Stewart Deming, who grew up in Hanover, NH. She captured the beauty of this area and the Maine coast in her many oil and watercolor paintings. Other inspirational artists include Paul Cezanne, John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Willard Metcalf, and Richard Schmid. I have been an educator for about forty years; first teaching English as a Second Language in Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and Portland, Maine, then vocational and academic skills to pregnant and parenting teens, and now, working with students with disabilities. I have been a special educator at Hartford High School since 1995. In addition to teaching, I volunteer in the NCCC Arts Program and am a downhill ski coach for Special Olympics. In my free time, I enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening and spending time with my family.

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River of Dreams

Colored Pencil by Alan Shulman

- See artist’s statement on page 76.

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Middle Bridge, Woodstock, Vermont

Acrylic by Betsey Peale

I am a wife, mother, and grandmother, who in the summer of 2014 picked up a paintbrush for the first time in many years. This has been life changing for me as I discovered the enjoyment and opportunity to participate in the AVA Gallery's Senior Art Program, and currently the NCCC's monthly Sunday afternoon art class held at the AVA. Within these group settings, I have discovered that using acrylics on canvas works for me as I develop my passion for painting landscapes – especially trees. I paint for my sanity and I paint for myself; I also enjoy sharing my art experience with other people and seeing what they have created. I have painted more than 30 paintings to date and have given several as gifts to family and friends. This has become an extension of my Associates Degree in the Arts and Humanities that I received in 1987, 25 years out of high school, and a great satisfaction for personal expression of life the way I see it.

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Flowing Past Cancer’s Cliffs

Pastel by Judith Wright

The light from God above, the release of the water of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the resulting pool of God's peace, all have kept us secure during the three quick returns of aggressive face cancer in my husband. The dark, black cliffs of cancer have not shut us off from God, or caused despair. We both continue with a life of hope and grateful thankful peace. My ability to express these thoughts visually has given us permanent representation of both the trial and the relief. While meditating on these thoughts, I wrote: My Husband Long before the last dawn, Before the last very sunset, His new mantra has become: I'm living strong!! Going to old and new places, Gathering with kith and kin, Spending life!! Glorious Life!! He's living strong with God!! Blessings, Judy

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Dan O’Neil shares his original song

The Journey

Telling Our Stories 2017

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Untitled Acrylic by Marge Brittner

Do flowers cheer you up? Flowers make me happy. These clematis are full flowers and a sight to behold.

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Three Stone Arches of Cancer Acrylic by Judith Wright I imagine these three stone pillars as representation of the three quick returns of cancer on my husband’s face. The darkness of cancer tried to overtake our hearts, minds and spirits. But, we have consistently walked forward to the light of God, which has drawn us onward. His doctors don't see any more cancer and keep close watch. We are thankful for superior medical care, prayers of many, and grate-fulness to God who never leaves or forsakes us. We move forward into the future infused with the peace and presence of God. Blessings, Judy

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Camaraderie, making connections and the ties that bind us --

the spirit of Telling Our Stories 2017

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Pink Irises Acrylic by Shirley Grainger-Inselburg It took some time to come up with the subject for this painting during an Art Space workshop at the AVA Gallery, but, while browsing through a book on flower arrangement, I was inspired by some ruffled, pale pink irises, which more commonly are seen in shades of blues and yellows. Even as a small child, I loved irises, especially those in my mother’s garden, although I knew them only as “flags,” the name typically given to the wild iris. Later, when I was studying art history, I discovered Vincent van Gogh’s painting of Blue Irises, as well as the iris as represented in Japanese art. For this acrylic painting, however, I wanted a more abstract version, as seen in close-up but in more vibrant shades of pink. I must admit I am not a lover of the color, but, in my subconscious, I must have been thinking of my sister-in-law, who was undergoing chemotherapy at the time.

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Writing Workshop Mixed Media Collage by Kathleen Shulman - See artist statement on page 77.

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In the Canyon Acrylic by Alan Shulman Telling my story through art I began finger-painting at two, and my parents started taking me to NYC art museums almost as soon as I could walk the galleries. There, I was entertained by van Gogh, de Chirico, Benton, O’Keeffe, Kandinsky, Magritte, Dali, and many others. Given those early influences, I’m inclined to create paintings that become narratives or stories, explicit or implied, whether they’re about places, persons, events, or ideas. Sometimes my images are environmental or economic commentaries, but, regardless of the specifics, my hope is always to prompt the viewer to ask questions. Whatever I make the painting’s focus, I rely on strong color to bring that vision to life and on compositions that catch the eye, often using perspective distortion to draw attention to the painting’s subject. In addition to intensity of color and distortion of form, my work usually begins with observed reality, which I mold using memory and dream. I paint with acrylic because it’s easy to set up, clean, mix for varying densities, and modify; since my paintings evolve as I work, those traits are very useful. Alan lives and paints in New London, NH where he lives with his wife Kathleen whom he has supported on her journey aided by Norris Cotton Cancer Center.

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How it Works Mixed Media by Kathleen Shulman

Telling my story through art I consider myself a writer and storyteller. As a child, I loved to make up plays and dialogue with my sisters. My professional life has revolved around literacy from my first students in Basic Adult Education and has continued for forty years. My interest in art began with fabrics, fibers and watching my mother and grandmother craft clothing and household items. I have studied art history and took my first painting workshop in Montreal where I was relieved that the leader gave critique in French freeing me to play with color and shape without worrying about “getting it right.” My pieces in this exhibit are collage, which is one of my favorite mediums. The canvas is washed with bright acrylic paint as a background for my thoughts about being a writer and being part of the services at Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Expressive arts are important to me and provide a meditative experience to heal, process life, and share these experiences with others. Kathleen lives and writes in New London, NH where she lives with her husband Alan who has enjoyed participating in Art Space offered through NCCC and facilitated by artist, Christine O. Henderson.

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Soaring High Cliffs Acrylic on canvas by Shirley Grainger-Inselburg

Here I was influenced by Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings of New Mexico. In fact, whenever I am in Santa Fe, I visit the museum devoted to her works of the Desert Southwest. And, like Georgia O’Keeffe during her lifetime, I need to be away from the city and spend time in the wilderness. I feel alive amongst the mesas, canyons, cliff dwellings, bizarre rock formations, and the desert of this region. Perhaps it is the dry heat during the day and the cool nights. I suspect, however, it is to counteract the often claustrophobic, forested landscapes back home in Vermont. As a keen photographer, deserts around the world have been my muse for more than forty years—as varied as the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado, the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, the Okanagan Desert of British Columbia, the Simpson Desert of Australia, the Western and Eastern Deserts of the Sahara, and the Serengeti in Kenya and Tanzania. I had never thought to paint scenes of any of these arid regions, but Art Space and the encouragement of Chris Henderson have brought me full circle. It is never too late!

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Cliff Walk

Watercolor by Peter Land - See artist’s statement on page 83.

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First Tracks

Watercolor by Peter Land I have been painting and drawing for about eight years. I have taken classes locally and painted with other Upper Valley painters in studios and outdoors. I often paint landscapes and chose two for this show because of the first conversation I had with my wife’s oncologist back in 2014. She said we were going on a journey. The first painting is inspired by the cliff walk path around Prouts Neck near Portland, Maine. The path does indeed pass across the top of several cliffs and ends very near Winslow Homer’s studio. I believe Homer was one of the finest watercolor painters and the views on this path are some of the subjects in his work. The second painting refers to skiing through the trees in Colorado. I also call this one “Cross your fingers, not your tips” which tree skiers will probably agree with. In both, I hope to convey the experience of finding a path and seeking a way even if the destination is not always in sight.

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Night Visitor Photography by Frances Chevalier-Smith Sometimes I think it’s the little things that often go unnoticed that especially warm the heart and offer a sense of wonder when we take the time to really look at their uniqueness and beauty. Whether at home here in New England or in France, my birthplace, I especially like to photograph images of people whose love of life beams from within or capture a moment that displays some of the fascinating complexities of the creatures who share our world with us. We don’t have to go far to find sources of hope and beauty. They are all around us every day. Take a closer look. You may be pleasantly surprised. I hope this image makes you smile.

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You helped us to understand and appreciate...

and smile and cheer.

You encouraged and inspired us...

Thank you for Telling YOUR Stories!

and shared The 50 Ways.

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Tell your story through words...

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and images...

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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.

SAVE THE DATE! We hope you will join us next year for our annual Telling Our Stories event

on Tuesday, October 23, 2018.