Donation for UCM Auction/Breast Painting
Artist Statement
Teresa Dirks
teresadirks.com
Three Chicks from the Burg
Mixed Media
12x12”
375.
Three Chicks from the Burg, was created to raise Breast Cancer Awareness. Earlier this year, several women got together, drank some wine, and brainstormed on how to raise money for the Avon Foundation for Women: Breast Cancer Crusade. From this brainstorming session, these amazingly creative women decided to use their breasts to paint. “Why not, it is for a great cause?” they all said.
After that evening, I got a phone call and was fortunate enough to be asked to help with this project; however, after I agreed, I thought, “How the heck are we going to do that?” The logistics were not apparent in the beginning. I was a bit overwhelmed to say the least, and how to do this tastefully was also a pressing issue. So, I researched breast painting, (believe it or not, people do this on a regular basis) and after several days I found a process that we have used with wonderful results. As a matter of fact, this process is used at a breast cancer center for therapy and is such a positive, enriching experience allowing breast cancer patients and family to express their emotions surrounding the fear of breast cancer. I cannot reiterate how thankful I am for the opportunity to help women and men of all ages and how delighted I am to work with family and friends sharing this experience with them. We all have stories of friends and family who have been touched by breast cancer. My paternal Aunt is a survivor! She is my raison d'être.
Needless to say, this project has carried over into my art. Three Chicks from the Burg, is simply that: great friends who came together and created this piece by painting with their breasts in order to promote the importance of monthly self-examination and regularly scheduled mammograms.
The Avon Foundation for Women states that “a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes in the United States and it remains the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer worldwide.” From that horrifying statistic the “three” in Three Chicks from the Burg, is representational. Additionally, the curved lines represent the bond women have: their sisterhood and shared responsibilities of family, friends, care giving, support, and of course, their femininity. The black represents and symbolizes the fear cancer brings with a diagnosis. The Three Chicks from the Burg is a reminder to be proactive with our health.
Teresa Dirks
teresadirks.com
Three Chicks from the Burg
Mixed Media
12x12”
375.
Three Chicks from the Burg, was created to raise Breast Cancer Awareness. Earlier this year, several women got together, drank some wine, and brainstormed on how to raise money for the Avon Foundation for Women: Breast Cancer Crusade. From this brainstorming session, these amazingly creative women decided to use their breasts to paint. “Why not, it is for a great cause?” they all said.
After that evening, I got a phone call and was fortunate enough to be asked to help with this project; however, after I agreed, I thought, “How the heck are we going to do that?” The logistics were not apparent in the beginning. I was a bit overwhelmed to say the least, and how to do this tastefully was also a pressing issue. So, I researched breast painting, (believe it or not, people do this on a regular basis) and after several days I found a process that we have used with wonderful results. As a matter of fact, this process is used at a breast cancer center for therapy and is such a positive, enriching experience allowing breast cancer patients and family to express their emotions surrounding the fear of breast cancer. I cannot reiterate how thankful I am for the opportunity to help women and men of all ages and how delighted I am to work with family and friends sharing this experience with them. We all have stories of friends and family who have been touched by breast cancer. My paternal Aunt is a survivor! She is my raison d'être.
Needless to say, this project has carried over into my art. Three Chicks from the Burg, is simply that: great friends who came together and created this piece by painting with their breasts in order to promote the importance of monthly self-examination and regularly scheduled mammograms.
The Avon Foundation for Women states that “a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes in the United States and it remains the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer worldwide.” From that horrifying statistic the “three” in Three Chicks from the Burg, is representational. Additionally, the curved lines represent the bond women have: their sisterhood and shared responsibilities of family, friends, care giving, support, and of course, their femininity. The black represents and symbolizes the fear cancer brings with a diagnosis. The Three Chicks from the Burg is a reminder to be proactive with our health.
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