On Tuesday evening, May 2, the Georgia Cancer Center celebrated the launch of their new Local Artist Community Exhibit program (LACE), which will be located in the facility’s first floor lobby.
Wanting to avoid a depressing and stressful atmosphere as much as possible, Georgia Cancer Center Director, Dr. Jorge Cortes, said he hopes the exhibit will help the facility feel more hopeful as their goal is to help patients survive both physically and mentally through their arduous cancer battle.
“We think the art exhibit is very important because we want to create a healing environment for the patients,” said Cortes. “It addresses the important mental component of fighting cancer.”
Curated to provide a wide variety of soothing art for the enjoyment of patients, family, faculty and staff from the center’s Outpatient Clinic, the gallery features several nature scenes and inspirations, such as: flowers, landscapes, trees, relaxing scenarios and gardens.
“As you can imagine, patients who have cancer come with fear, anxiety and physical discomfort, and I think having a way to give them an opportunity to relax, catch their breath a little and connect with nature provides an environment that’s more conducive to continue their fight against cancer,” said Cortes. “There is something about being able to connect with nature that always makes us feel better.”
For each painting bought, artists have agreed to donate 20% of the profits to the Unite in the Fight Cancer Fund, which sponsors programs that directly affect cancer patients and survivors. Programs championed by Unite in the Fight include providing uninsured cancer patients with wigs, breast prostheses and even mental health care.
“I would hope that the [support staff at the center] find comfort in the beauty of the creation that is all around us,” said participating artist and fellow cancer survivor Laurie Cordaro. “I’m really hoping that they think about something more positive than what they or their patients are going through, and that they consider art as a possible therapy.”
Inspired by her own survival journey and her brother’s nature photographs, who has battled Lymphoma twice, Cordaro said she hoped her paintings helped current cancer patients focus on the end goal of receiving treatment and fighting cancer.
“I hope they see plenty of light in the darkness and a lot of beauty because, even though they are going through difficult times, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “I hope their families are also comforted at that time, because it’s a very difficult thing to go through … your whole life is just changed completely.”
On the second floor, in a fantasy graphic novel fashion, another compelling gallery is displayed in the center. Created by a cancer survivor who documented his journey with artwork, the second exhibit features interesting characters, creatures and scenes that serve as metaphors for different aspects of the artist’s struggles throughout his cancer treatments.
“The drawings are what he was experiencing at the time, and it’s great to see how it depicts all of his journey. It’s really something to visit,” said Cortes. “It’s important for a patient to relate to another patient – there’s so much I can tell them … but I cannot tell them what it is when I haven’t been there. This artwork provides a different level of connection. They can see how someone else, who has been in their shoes, has navigated through that.”
Similar to Cortes, Cordaro said she was honored to provide something that had the potential to help other survivors during their journey, because it socially and financially strengthened the community.
“It’s a great blend of community effort to support those in need at a special time, and I’m just very thankful to be a part of this project,” she said.
At the moment, the Georgia Cancer Center’s next big project will be to renovate and revamp the facility’s meditation room and connected outdoor garden. They are currently trying to raise funds, so they can provide a more engaging, inviting and relaxing space for patients and staff.
“This [exhibit] is just phase one of a larger project of looking at the overall healing of the patient,” said Cortes. “We have a garden at the end of the hallway where these paintings are … we are replanting flowers – making it more attractive, more inviting so that the patients can have a little quiet time to connect with nature.”
According to Angela Maskey, the co-chair of the meditation room’s committee, intense research shows relaxation and unconventional means of therapy, such as art and music, provide patients and staff with incredible health benefits.
“My niece had cancer at 24, so I know how emotional that process is, and taking time to heal and deal with that PTSD is incredibly powerful,” she said. “There’s a lot of data that supports the power that the meditative process has for actual healing – so it has a physical benefit as well.”
As an artist who has experience with channeling her own hardships and emotions into her work, Cordaro said she knows firsthand that art is a great means of therapy for the mind.
“I think it’s a wonderful avenue to focus on … I worked at Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home with a lot of veterans and they constantly said they found relaxation, strength to go forward and it just really helped them in so many ways.”
For staff, as well as patients, Cortes said he believes the garden and meditation room will allow them to take a small, occasional break to gain some relief from their busy and stressful work day.
“They get very attached to the patient as well, so for them it’s also important to have a beautiful space to do the work, and areas where they can relax to be ready to continue helping their patients, and supporting them,” he said. “Taking care of our own staff and faculty is important for their own mental health and for their ability to continue providing excellent care.”
While further funds are being raised for the garden and meditation room, the Georgia Cancer Center, located at 1411 Laney Walker Blvd, is looking forward to this year’s Unite in the Fight Against Cancer walk on Saturday, May 13.
Starting at 8 a.m., a two-mile walk will begin to raise awareness for all types of cancer. To register or find out more, visit: https://www.augusta.edu/giving/uniteinthefight
