Caryn Frishman unveils her painting inspired by Ashley Smith for the Arsht Center's Brushes with Cancer program. (Photo by Gregory Reed)
Sometimes the sweetest songs and moving stories are borne from pain.
Such is the case with Twist Out Cancer’s "Brushes with Cancer," a program that supports individuals touched by cancer through the visual arts.
They have partnered with The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, to tell the stories and share the feelings of those touched by the disease.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Miami's Arsht Center,” says Jenna Benn Shersher, the Philadelphia native who founded Twist Out Cancer.
“The artworks created through the program serve as a powerful visual representation of the challenges and triumphs of individuals facing cancer and promote empathy and understanding,” she says.
The program pairs local artists with “inspirations,” people whose lives have been impacted by cancer as previvors (those with a family history of the disease), those suffering from cancer or have survived the disease, or caregivers. The program, according to its founder, is a way to provide healing, support and empowerment to both the artist and the person affected by cancer.
“We are proud to offer our community an opportunity to find healing and emotional connection through the shared experience of making art,” says Jairo Ontiveros, vice president and Dorothea Green Chair of Education and Community Engagement at the Arsht Center, who was inspired to bring the program to Miami after visiting another Brushes with Cancer exhibit.
He says he was moved by the individual connection with the visual arts and realized the program would align with the Arsht Center’s mission of connecting people.
Caryn Frishman and Ashley Smith pose with the art piece Caryn created, inspired by Ashley as part of the Arsht Center's Brushes with Cancer program. (Photo by Gregory Reed)
“The response from both the artists and inspirations is incredible and the connections they made with each other are magical,” he says.
For the past six months, 19 inspirations have been collaborating with a visual artist to share their stories and feelings, for the artist to visually and creatively interpret their experience into a unique work of art that represents the inspiration’s personal journey with the disease.
The exhibit is curated by Rosie Gordon-Wallace, founder of Miami’s Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator.
The completed works will be unveiled during an event on Thursday, Sept. 12 with original works of art celebrating survivorship and hope, to be auctioned off with all proceeds benefiting the mission and work of Twist Out Cancer.
Two of the participants are Miami painter and fiber artist Rosa Henriquez, 57, and her inspiration, Morgen Chesonis-Gonzalez, 51, an art therapist and breast cancer survivor, who heard about the initiative through her breast cancer support group, 305 Pink Pack.
Diagnosed in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with Stage II B triple negative breast cancer – an aggressive form of cancer — Chesonis-Gonzalez underwent 10 months of treatment, including four months of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor and then had a bilateral mastectomy.
A difficult time made more arduous by the isolation of the pandemic, (she likens it to the "Twilight Zone") Chesonis-Gonzalez has put the worst behind her.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the 'Brushes with Cancer 'project,” she says. “The power of art can transcend language and time and be a powerful healing modality.”
Initially, Chesonis-Gonzalez and Henriquez communicated over Zoom, Facetime and text messages. Henriquez sent her inspiration a list of 36 questions to learn about Chesonis-Gonzalez’s life and experiences with cancer.
Henriquez depicted Chesonis-Gonzalez as a “Shield Maiden” — Viking women who went into battle, adorned with a shield and sword, victorious amidst a field of purple irises, her favorite flower. The expression on her face is defiant, resilient and powerful.
“It is wild and humbling to have someone create something so personal about your life,” says Chesonis-Gonzalez, who says her prognosis is good. “I loved it.”
Ironically, Henriquez, who worked in various capacities for the City of North Miami, began painting in an on-line watercolor class in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown and says, “I’ve been painting ever since.”
She credits "Brushes with Cancer" for giving her and other emerging artists a platform to create their work as well as initiate intimate conversations, human connections and friendships.
Artist Rosa Henriquez and inspiration Morgen Chesnois-Gonzalez pose with the art piece inspired by Morgen's experience, as part of the Arsht Center's Brushes with Cancer program (Photo by Gregory Reed)
She has already applied to be part of their next program in Chicago in spring of 2025.
“Morgen is so courageous,” she says. “We became friends through this process and now share photographs of the flowers in our garden and the fruit on our trees.”
Another friendship that has blossomed from the "Brushes" with Cancer initiative is that of child and family therapist, Ashley Smith, 48, of Miami Shores and artist Caryn Frishman, 57, (CFcreationsArt) of Pembroke Pines.
A two-time melanoma survivor, (Smith was diagnosed in 2017 and again in 2020) she was browsing the Arsht Center website for tickets to a flamenco dance show when the "Brushes with Cancer" announcement popped up.
The active and exuberant Smith, who hates sitting still has many interests, including swimming, creating vintage clothing pop ups, making body scrubs and beauty products, training to be a Pilates instructor and dressing up each Halloween as a different circus performer.
“I’m skilled at making my own fun,” she jokes.
With no family history of cancer, Smith, whose prognosis is now clear, says the diagnosis “rocked her world.” And, because the melanomas were on her face, she had no choice but to address the issue head-on.
Thrilled with the match to Frishman, Smith says, “Caryn is warm, lively, a good listener and kind and allowed me space to tell my story.”
“She ‘got me,’” she says. “She comforted me through the process and we have forged a true friendship.”
Frishman, a mom of three and herself a 21-year thyroid and throat cancer survivor who has worked with "Brushes with Cancer" three times previously, designed a sun with bright colors and intricate details symbolizing Smith’s journey.
A former classroom teacher who has turned her hobby for crafts into a passion-filled business, Frishman says she is now doing what she loves every day.
“Ashley is a ray of light,” Frishman says. “She glows.”
After hearing Smith’s story, Frishman, who is inspired by her Jewish heritage, artists Gustave Klimt and the bright colors of Romero Britto, decided to capture her feelings using her favorite colors of yellow and orange, rather than depict a literal journey.
“I’m inspired to share these stories in an intimate way,” she says. “I hope my work makes people smile.”
“I feel blessed, blessed, blessed to be paired with Ashley, who is now my sister,” says Frishman. “When two strangers come together by chance and are now forever connected that’s an incredible blessing.”
And, while there are many blessings to celebrate in the show, Smith hopes people come out, feel inspired and hopeful and know that even in the darkest and most uncertain times, the sun will eventually rise.
“I hope people who have experience with cancer can come and connect and share a love for each other,” she says. “To have all these personal stories shared in a creative way in a public setting is special.”
If you go:
- WHAT: Inaugural Brushes with Cancer.
- WHEN: Public Viewing, Celebration & Silent Auction, Sept. 12. The art will remain on view at an online gallery at arshtcenter.org and in the Arsht Center's Knight Center lobby through mid-October.
- TICKETS: Free and open to the public with RSVP. Guests for the Sept. 12 event should RSVP online at arshtcenter.org/brusheswithcancer.
- WHERE: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami.
- INFORMATION: Visit arshtcenter.org or email: tickets@aarshtcenter.org. Also twistoutcancer.org also (786) 468-2000.
