“Joy Returns”
Michele King
Wayne, PA
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: Beginning this year with breast cancer was not in my plans.
It was terrifying to hear the word cancer. Decisions needed to be made quickly and my life (as I knew it) stopped abruptly. I went into full fight mode for the first six months. My brain on the other hand, was and still is trying to catch up.
Physically I feel great. No one would know what I have been through, unless you know my story. No one can see the scars. I am realizing that the mental part of this process takes a lot longer to heal than the physical. At least for me.
My support system has been incredible. I cannot thank my wonderful husband, children, family and caring friends enough for all their support, prayers, dinners, phone calls and texts. I will forever remember every one of you.
One of my dear friends happens to be the founder of Twist out Cancer. Thank you Jenna for your endless support and countless texts this year! Through Twist, I was blessed to be paired with Beth Kephart for the Brushes With Cancer program. Beth is not only an artist, but an author, National Book Award Finalist and a friend. Thank you Beth for the most thoughtful artistic design. Your intricate layering, detailed stitching and exquisite composition is perfection!
I am thankful and feel very blessed for all the loving people who surrounded me this year. Please do not delay — keep those mammogram appointments!
Beth Kephart
Devon, PA
bind-arts.com
@bethkephartnow
“Joy Returns”
Paper monotype collage, and stitch
20” x 20”
$350
Artist Statement: This art was built of eight separate prints that I made, tore, and wove—prints made specifically for Michele. Michele is an innately optimistic person who began to question the glass half full after her breast cancer, then subsequent skin cancer (S!) diagnoses. But she returns to her faith in goodness so very many times as we talk. And so I have called this piece “in the glaze of the dawn joy returns.”
This blue is Michele’s favorite color. The hydrangea is her favorite flower. She likes a bronze patina. Her cancers have all been right there on the surface, and so I am doing that reveal here, cutting out the hydrangea leaf, revealing something beneath, then closing the leaf. The two stitched lines above that leaf represent the two journeys she has taken with the cancer.