FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Virtual art exhibition on Friday, September 25 will showcase 25 unique works of art done by GM Design Center employees, each representing an individual’s journey with cancer
August 10, 2020, Detroit – Twist Out Cancer will host their 2020 Brushes With Cancer program at GM’s Design Center in Warren, Michigan, beginning with a virtual art exhibition on Friday, September 25. Twist Out Cancer is an is an international non-profit charitable organization that provides psychosocial support to individuals touched by cancer through creative arts programming. After holding 14 programs in seven cities over the past eight years, this is the first time a Brushes With Cancer program will be held for employees of one company.
Brushes With Cancer is a unique celebration that pairs accomplished artists with “Inspirations” – people who are previvors, survivors, fighters, and caregivers affected by cancer. As they share their “twist on cancer” – stories, feelings, and experiences – the artists create unique pieces of art representing their personal journey with cancer.
This year, each of the 25 Inspirations and 23 Artists involved in the program are employees at GM Design. Their artwork and the stories behind them will be available for everyone to view during a virtual art exhibition and celebratory event on Friday, September 25. Tickets are available now on the Twist Out Cancer website.
Following the event, the artwork will be on display at the GM Design Center Gallery until Friday, October 30, and will be auctioned online. Proceeds from art sales are reinvested into Brushes with Cancer, helping to bring this program to more people around the world. More information is available at https://www.twistoutcancer.org/brushes/gm/
“Our Brushes With Cancer program in Detroit was a resounding success last year, and we were honored to be approached by the GM Design Center Gallery to work with their employees for our 2020 program,” said Jenna Benn Shersher, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Twist Out Cancer. “We have worked hand-in-hand with employees at GM Design during this unprecedented time to continue our program virtually, which is offering our Inspirations and Artists the same transformational experience our participants have come to expect over the past eight years. As Twist Out Cancer has grown, we continue to bring our impactful programming to new cities and new audiences around the world and are thrilled with the start of this new program.”
Jeffrey Froggett, a Senior Graphic Designer and Gallery Curator at the GM Design Center, attended last year’s Brushes with Cancer program in Detroit shortly after his wife passed away due to cancer. He was determined to bring the program to the GM Design Center and contacted Jenna Benn Shersher to do so.
“Working with Twist Out Cancer is just another example of the work GM Design does to support our employees and our communities,” said Froggett. “The Brushes with Cancer program has helped me honor my late wife, Julie, and I am confident that the 25 pieces of art will be some of the finest art that the GM Design Center Gallery has ever seen.”
Virtual Brushes With Cancer programs will also be held in Austin, Texas on October 25, 2020 and in Chicago on Saturday, November 14. If you would like to bring Brushes With Cancer to your city, or if you have any questions on corporate partnerships, please contact Amelia Hanrahan at amelia@twistoutcancer.org.
About Twist Out Cancer
Established in 2011 as a non-profit organization, Twist Out Cancer offers the platform, tools and community – both online and offline – for anyone touched by cancer to feel connected to a community, and for many to take action. Twist Out Cancer was founded on the principle that when you share, the world opens up. Since its inception, the organization has touched over 30,000 people around the world through its programs and events. A labor of love, Twist Out Cancer is a volunteer-led organization boasting a network of over 200 active volunteers serving as ambassadors in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, Austin, Tel Aviv, Toronto, and Montreal. More information is available at www.twistoutcancer.org.
About The GM Design Center Gallery
The GM Design Center Gallery was established in 2002 to display artwork created by GM employees and to support the arts. The private gallery is located on the second floor in the Eero Saarinen’s designed Administration Building on the GM Global Technical Center campus. The art displayed in the gallery range from individual employee shows, group shows, department shows, and visiting artist shows. In recent years the Gallery has opened its doors for community art exhibitions to raise funds for those in need.
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For media inquiries on Twist Out Cancer, please contact Joshua Taustein at josh@twistoutcancer.org.
For media inquiries on the General Motors Design Center Gallery, please contact Monte Doran at monte.doran@gm.com.