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Herb Wagner
Photo by Heidi Wagner |
Male Breast Cancer Survivor on a Mission
Herb loves to golf, play poker, and dance. He's been through a lot: knee, hip, heart and shoulder surgery. He's even had some skin cancer. But when he had a nipple retract, one doctor said not to worry - then six months later a different doctor correctly diagnosed
male breast cancer. Herb is now on a mission. Wearing a pale pink long-sleeved, button-down dress shirt by Wrangler, Herb is making documentaries, speaking to groups, and helping raise funds to find the cure for breast cancer. Herb Wagner is tough enough to wear pink, which he does proudly.
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"The Dress" by Tinia Clark
Photo © Edwin Ryan Bailey |
This is an elegant evening gown created by an artist - or is it? Look more closely, or click on the image to see a larger view. Suspended from one hangar are many bras - empty bras - hooked and pinned together. This work of art is composed completely of bras, donated for this piece. The artist is Tinia Clark, and this work is called "The Dress."
Like the women who develop breast cancer, the bras are all sizes and colors. Some are sophisticated, some are practical, some are just for fun. Larger bras are hung inside, filling out the form and supporting the outer layer.
Tinia Clark was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2007, had a double mastectomy, and reconstruction. She responded to her diagnosis by expressing her experience in art. Nothing was wasted on Tinia - she saved her surgical drains, chemo port, tissue expanders, a pre-cancer bra. These objects were transformed into art that speaks of the statistic that Clark writes as "1N8" - 1 of every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during the course of their lifetime.
Clark writes in her artist's statement of this piece "I learned this statistic when the 1 in 8 was Me." The artist is currently in remission and is using her art to help raise awareness and make people stop and think. "The Dress" won a Best of Show award, and is currently part of a one-woman show at the Ridge Art Association in Winter Haven, Florida.
