Today’s photograph from Tracey Derrick‘s body of work, 1 in 9, is a photograph of the plaster cast she made of her chest, post-mastectomy. Through the tender replication of her chest, she somehow manages to both powerfully AND gently obliterate the media’s ‘requirement’ for women to ‘build themselves back together’ into a state of ‘normal femininity’ —- and instead presents us with a portrait of herself simply as she is: pure, unencumbered, real and unutterably and beautifully herself: unique!
Whether we choose reconstruction, to wear breast prostheses or go breast-free, the power of choice lies in our hands: it is our choice, and our choice alone.
If you would like to share your story about your post-mastectomy body
and your new, YOUnique normal,
please pop us an inboxed message on Facebook!
HE{ART}FELT TAKEAWAYS
- How Women Use Art and Art Therapy to Cope With Breast Cancer
- Art Therapy Helps Breast Cancer Patients
- Creative Arts Beneficial to Cancer Patients ~ American Cancer Society
- Art Therapy Helps Breast Cancer Patients Cope ~ Cure Today
- Breathroughs with Art ~ City of Hope
RESOURCES & IDEAS:
ART THERAPY BLOG: Activites & Ideas
EXPRESSIVE ART WORKSHOPS by Shelley Klammer
- We love the idea of art journalling as creative ‘self therapy‘ (click here to read more!) but the website is full of other wonderful ideas – and we recommend signing up for her very helpful and inspiring newsletters too!