Melanie Beth Sebring
Survivor
Acrylic, charcoal, pigment Stick on paper
Artist Statement
As an artist and cancer survivor, my work and my life have been forever changed. I appreciate both so much more now. I’m able to see more beauty than I had before or maybe I’ve set my sights on what really matters in this life. I guess I appreciate myself too in a different way; now with more love and less criticism, less judgement and a daily practice of celebrating any and all, large or small accomplishments. I’m enjoying a slower pace and a new freedom to just be. As a woman of faith, my faith has been tested and tried and I’ve learned to lean on and trust in God with more love and gratitude then I ever did before. It’s been quite a long journey from the first strange symptoms to discovering the cause was pancreatic cancer, then to start treatments, have surgery and more treatment. Life and death are something I think about everyday, not in a despairing way, but now with more respect and a greater value on life and those things that bring me joy and satisfaction. Life isn’t easy and it’s often a real challenge for me, but it is good and I still find beauty and enjoyment in all that I can see and do. Life is good and a creative life is even better.
52 Views of Cancer
52 Views of Cancer is a deck of playing cards illustrated by people who know cancer firsthand. Each of the 52 cards carries original artwork by a different cancer patient, survivor, or immediate family member, each with their own view of the disease.
The artwork comes first. We're bringing the deck to major scientific and medical conferences and putting these artists' work directly into the hands of the researchers and clinicians working on the cancers they've faced.
Learn more about Invenra’s efforts to fight cancer.
