World Tour of 'Lilly Oncology on Canvas' Art Exhibit Stops at D.C.'s Historic Union Station
September 21 2005 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
More Than 150 Artworks Presented WASHINGTON, Sept. 21
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- "Lilly Oncology on Canvas: Expressions of
a Woman's Cancer Journey," a distinctive art exhibit traveling the
world, is visiting the nation's capital for three weeks beginning
September 26. The timing of the exhibit coincides with several
cancer awareness days occurring in September and October, including
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (September) and National Breast
Cancer Awareness Month (October). The exhibit, showcasing more than
150 works of art created by those touched by women's cancer, will
be open to the public at Union Station's West Hall from Monday,
September 26 through Sunday, October 16, 2005. Lilly Oncology on
Canvas is presented by Eli Lilly and Company, in partnership with
the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), and the
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University.
Patient Perspective Lilly Oncology on Canvas entrant Donna Hepner,
a 39-year old Annapolis, MD college arts professor had just earned
her Masters in Fine Arts when she was diagnosed with an
"aggressive, invasive" breast cancer at age 33 in 1999. "It was
fourth of July weekend. Like my studio mates, I was looking forward
to making summer plans and beginning my teaching career; instead, I
discovered a lump under my arm and embarked on a year of
chemotherapy and recovery." Still, Hepner calls her cancer
diagnosis a "gift." "Having a cancer experience has been the best
thing to ever happen to me and my art. It put me in a state of
live, live, live." It is now six years later and Hepner is well.
But some of the people close to Hepner were not so lucky. Since her
own diagnosis and recovery, she has lost several close friends and
a family member to cancer, including the woman who inspired her
career. In addition, her two grandmothers have just been diagnosed.
When chemotherapy nurses, with whom she grew close over the years,
urged her to enter the Lilly Oncology on Canvas competition, Hepner
produced her photography entry entitled "Insomniacs." This is a
self portrait of her cancer journey during and after treatment.
"The vastness and overflow of emotions were great, and Lilly
Oncology on Canvas allowed me to express it." About the Artwork
Lilly Oncology on Canvas began as an international art competition
open to: those affected by women's cancer; their families and
friends; cancer advocates, healthcare providers, artists and art
students. The contest invited them to express, through art and in
narrative, their own cancer journeys. This rich and enduring
exhibition, which was unveiled at London's Royal College of Art in
December 2004, has been traveling the world in 2005 and continues
to touch the hearts and minds of people everywhere. "Most of us
have been touched by cancer in some way, and we can therefore all
identify with the Lilly Oncology on Canvas exhibit," said Adrian
Barfield, executive director, U.S. Lilly Oncology Business Unit.
"But the real strength of the exhibit lies in its portrayal of the
human spirit and its role in the healing process. At Lilly, the
contest has helped us gain a better understanding of the importance
of treating not just the cancer, but the human being, with
innovative, meaningful ways to help make the cancer journey more
hopeful." Lilly Oncology on Canvas received more than 400
submissions from 23 countries including Australia, Botswana, Hong
Kong, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, the U.S. and
U.K. The competition yielded 24 winners in various categories
including photography, oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel and
charcoal. Monetary awards were provided to the winners' cancer
charities of choice. Celebrating Survivorship Since 1971 the number
of cancer survivors in the United States has increased from 3
million to more than 10 million today. This year it is estimated
that another 1.4 million will be diagnosed, including more than
660,000 women. Advances in cancer research and treatment have
increased significantly the survival rates for several types of
cancer, but not all. Ellen Stovall, a two-time, 33-year cancer
survivor and president and CEO of the National Coalition for Cancer
Survivorship (NCCS), says the title of survivor is earned early on.
"One is a cancer survivor from the moment of diagnosis and for the
balance of life," said Stovall. "And because Lilly Oncology on
Canvas is about survivorship - the experience of living with,
through and beyond a cancer diagnosis - NCCS is proud to be
associated with it." National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
(NCCS) NCCS is the oldest survivor-led cancer advocacy organization
in the country and a highly respected authentic voice at the
federal level, advocating for quality cancer care for all Americans
and empowering cancer survivors. For more information about NCCS
and its advocacy for quality cancer care, please visit
http://www.canceradvocacy.org/ or call 1.877.NCCS.YES. Lombardi
Comprehensive Cancer Center The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer
Center, named for legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, was
established at Georgetown University in 1970. Lombardi is the only
National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in
the Washington, DC area. The state-of-the-art cancer center treats
virtually every type of cancer, with a particular emphasis in solid
tumors and adult and pediatric hematologic cancers. Eli Lilly and
Company Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is
developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class
pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its
own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent
scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana,
USA, Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information --
for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. O-LLY To view
samples of the artwork from the exhibition, please log on to
http://www.lillyoncology.com/ and click on the Lilly Oncology on
Canvas logo. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050921/NCCSLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/OOCLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050921/NCCSLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/OOCLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO DATASOURCE:
Eli Lilly and Company; National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
CONTACT: Gregory Clarke of Eli Lilly and Company, +1-317-276-5222,
Pager: +1-877-892-7864,
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