Callie Cullinan and Annie Arnold
The Story
Callie Cullinan Ludwig
Columbus, OH
Social Media: @callie8467
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: At the beginning of 2020, I joined Twist Out Cancer as a Brushes with Cancer artist and art therapist. Six months later, I received my own cancer diagnosis, Stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. A million thoughts ran through my head that day, but I felt frozen. With the support of my loved ones, I pushed forward – through 18 months of intensive treatment. I worked with an incredible inspiration for Brushes with Cancer that year – so resilient and vulnerable as she shared her story with me. Due to the pandemic and becoming immune-compromised from the treatment, I was isolated from so many of my family and friends, but I was able to connect with my inspiration through e-mails and video calls. During chemotherapy, I finished my painting for Brushes with Cancer and continued to work at my job as a clinical therapist – little by little, one day at a time. I have been connected with two more inspirations with powerful stories through Brushes with Cancer since then and had minimally considered being an inspiration myself. I am so lucky to say that the artist I am paired with this year, Annie, is not only a talented artist, but my wonderful friend. Annie knew me before my cancer diagnosis, she supported me through treatment, and now, she gets to help me celebrate all my milestones post-cancer. I am grateful to say I’ve been cancer free for 2 years. I’ve thought a lot about my “twist” on cancer and I think when it comes down to it, when I think about my experience – I try to think about all the small moments of happiness that still existed – in all the fear, worry, anger. For me, those small moments are such an important part of living, that have only been amplified since my diagnosis- laughing so hard with my sisters until we were in tears, cooking dinner and listening to records with my parents, the resilience (and humor) of the teenagers I worked with every day at the hospital, and the instant calmness I feel coming home to my husband and, of course, our dog and cats.
Social Media: @callie8467
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: At the beginning of 2020, I joined Twist Out Cancer as a Brushes with Cancer artist and art therapist. Six months later, I received my own cancer diagnosis, Stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. A million thoughts ran through my head that day, but I felt frozen. With the support of my loved ones, I pushed forward – through 18 months of intensive treatment. I worked with an incredible inspiration for Brushes with Cancer that year – so resilient and vulnerable as she shared her story with me. Due to the pandemic and becoming immune-compromised from the treatment, I was isolated from so many of my family and friends, but I was able to connect with my inspiration through e-mails and video calls. During chemotherapy, I finished my painting for Brushes with Cancer and continued to work at my job as a clinical therapist – little by little, one day at a time. I have been connected with two more inspirations with powerful stories through Brushes with Cancer since then and had minimally considered being an inspiration myself. I am so lucky to say that the artist I am paired with this year, Annie, is not only a talented artist, but my wonderful friend. Annie knew me before my cancer diagnosis, she supported me through treatment, and now, she gets to help me celebrate all my milestones post-cancer. I am grateful to say I’ve been cancer free for 2 years. I’ve thought a lot about my “twist” on cancer and I think when it comes down to it, when I think about my experience – I try to think about all the small moments of happiness that still existed – in all the fear, worry, anger. For me, those small moments are such an important part of living, that have only been amplified since my diagnosis- laughing so hard with my sisters until we were in tears, cooking dinner and listening to records with my parents, the resilience (and humor) of the teenagers I worked with every day at the hospital, and the instant calmness I feel coming home to my husband and, of course, our dog and cats.
Annie Arnold
Wapello, IA
Social Media: @annie.ollivander
“Phases of Light and Dark”
Acrylic pour painting on canvas
5 Hexagon Canvases - 10” x 12”
$500
Artist Statement: Callie and I met many, many years ago. Eleven years ago, we began the same grad school program and became friends. We would grow to be confidants, partners in shenanigans, roommates, cat wranglers, ears and shoulders for each other’s problems, and support from different parts of the country. It is a privilege to share Callie’s story and, in many ways, how our stories overlapped. The paintings created here are to witness more than cancer. They represent a phase of our lives that gave numerous amounts of joy, anxiety, heartbreak, turmoil, pride, and companionship. Each painting represents one of these moments of time. The light and the dark were always there in each experience. There were times the darkness threatened to engulf us whole, but we chose to honor the darkness and validate its existence. Then we stood tall, with friends and family for support, and found the light. To so many, Callie has been a beacon of light and a refuge from the darkness. My hope is to reflect her brilliance through the storms she weathered and the light she found along the way.
Social Media: @annie.ollivander
“Phases of Light and Dark”
Acrylic pour painting on canvas
5 Hexagon Canvases - 10” x 12”
$500
Artist Statement: Callie and I met many, many years ago. Eleven years ago, we began the same grad school program and became friends. We would grow to be confidants, partners in shenanigans, roommates, cat wranglers, ears and shoulders for each other’s problems, and support from different parts of the country. It is a privilege to share Callie’s story and, in many ways, how our stories overlapped. The paintings created here are to witness more than cancer. They represent a phase of our lives that gave numerous amounts of joy, anxiety, heartbreak, turmoil, pride, and companionship. Each painting represents one of these moments of time. The light and the dark were always there in each experience. There were times the darkness threatened to engulf us whole, but we chose to honor the darkness and validate its existence. Then we stood tall, with friends and family for support, and found the light. To so many, Callie has been a beacon of light and a refuge from the darkness. My hope is to reflect her brilliance through the storms she weathered and the light she found along the way.