“The yearly art show is more than an event for me but rather a reminder that I am still here and surrounded with others who understand,” shares Rachel. Rachel was one of several returning artists to this year’s Community Art Show.
The Community Art Show represents what Gilda’s is all about – bringing together a community of others who “get it,” while finding ways to process their cancer experience. This annual tradition goes back many years, and we are always blown away by the talent of our members, volunteers, and staff who participate. The art ranges in mediums – from paintings to fabric art to photography to sculpture and more. But what it has in common is that it provides a creative outlet for those touched by cancer and a moving experience for anyone viewing the art.
Gloria, another returning artist, shares, “I’ve decided to be a part of the art show every year because it has always been cathartic for me. I typically do pieces specifically surrounding my diagnosis. It’s one of the only places that feels safe enough to share these certain ones. And I love being a part of something bigger than me.”
“Gilda’s Club Made Me an Artist”
In fact, the Community Art Show has continued to grow each year. This year’s art show featured more than 70 pieces of art, each one providing a window into the lives of our community members. Many of the pieces were created in or inspired by art workshops at Gilda’s Club, such as Therapeutic Art, Write to Heal, and Tough Friends Art Club.
“Gilda’s Club made me an artist. It’s as simple and as complicated as that,” shares Lyn, a regular attendee of Therapeutic Art. Like many others, attending art workshops inspired both her art in the Community Art Show, as well as impacted her in the rest of her life.
Our hope is that both the process of creating artwork for the Community Art Show, as well as having their artwork displayed in a supportive community setting, will help those impacted by cancer find emotional healing. As Alyssa, another returning artist, shares, “Creating and putting together all of the parts of my art piece helped me process some of the trauma of my cancer experience, and it was an honor to see it amongst the other works of art at Gilda’s.”
A Creative Village
Thank you to our artists, volunteers, and over 100 attendees for helping make the 2026 Community Art Show opening night a success. We also want to thank our incredible event sponsors: 6AM Marketing, The Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation, and Total Administrative Services Corporation (TASC) Cares. Thank you to Wendigo Catering for providing the delicious hors d’oeuvres, James Crockett for the beautiful music, Momma Megs Ice Cream for the yummy sweet treats, and James The Magician for the amazing magic.
And, a special thank you to our artists who were willing to share more about their experiences being a part of the Community Art Show. They were so eloquent and generous in sharing, we wanted to include more from them.
“A Piece of My Soul Shared Through Art”
Here is more from this year’s artists:
“My cancer diagnosis changed my life in many ways. Some were terrible and heart breaking but others gave me a joy I’d never felt before. Art provides a much needed outlet to my complex and often overwhelming emotions surrounding cancer. Three years ago I entered a piece in the Gilda’s Club art show and cried seeing my piece on the wall. Seeing my art in a show was never something I imagined prior to diagnosis. This year I saw my art shining in the sunlight flooding the room and it gave me hope that I can continue this path through cancer survivorship. The yearly art show is more than an event for me but rather a reminder that I am still here and surrounded with others who understand.”
— Rachel“Every year, I look forward to showcasing my art in the Gilda’s Club Community Art Show, it’s always a meaningful experience for me. I’ve been a volunteer and participant at the Gilda’s Club 5K for many years, and I strongly support their mission of providing support to families facing cancer.
Cancer has touched some of the closest people in my life, and I think often about their strength and resilience. Being part of the art show feels like a way to give back, by sharing something personal that might help or inspire others. In addition to exhibiting my own work, I’m always moved by the artwork of members and survivors. Many of the pieces are incredibly vulnerable and deeply touching, it’s powerful to be part of a community that expresses so much through creativity. I look forward to being part of the show for many years to come.”
— Kaelin“I’ve decided to be a part of the art show every year because it has always been cathartic for me. I typically do pieces specifically surrounding my diagnosis. It’s one of the only places that feels safe enough to share these certain ones. And I love being a part of something bigger than me.
The first 2 years I spent 4 months beforehand sitting down and creating works for the show. But this year I had them done 10 months ahead of time. I spend time thinking of my feelings and a concept that embodies them. Then I just sit down and feel them with a brush in my hand.
Since my first art show I have sold a few pieces. It’s cool knowing someone is wearing or displaying my art somewhere. In September my art will be featured at the Waunakee library for a whole month.
The Art Show has made me more confident in myself and my art. I have also been more open with my story and vocal about changes that could be made in the life of a cancer patient. Which resulted in me making a TikTok about my journey and life as a cancer patient.”
— Gloria“Gilda’s Club made me an artist. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.
I participated in my first therapeutic art program (painting T-shirts, led by an art therapy intern) five years ago. COVID was still a thing, the clubhouse was closed and the program was offered virtually.
Therapeutic art amazed me because it brought out stunning art in people (including but not limited to me) who may not have thought of themselves as artists. One way I know that: I see so many pieces in the art show that were created in the Gilda’s studio or back yard.
As for the overall show itself: For all its variety in media and motif, it could not be more cohesive if it were professionally curated.
Is my art about cancer?
Yes and no.
As in previous years (this was my sixth Gilda’s Club art show), I’ve selected pieces that, at first glance, don’t say “sickness” or “survival” — including an abstract mixed-media piece made of COVID mask layers and a needle-felting winter landscape.
But indirectly, every piece I show at the art exhibit comes from my identity as someone who has lived with two kinds of cancer and a host of other health challenges. I look to color, texture and creativity to cope with, and to show others, what’s going on inside of me…cancer, and everything else.
I could not be more thankful to art therapist Molly Linn-Miller, and to the other survivors with whom I make art in community, for bringing so much visual art out of me.”
— Lyn“My inspiration for one of my art pieces was born in a Gilda’s Club group, actually (Write to Heal), and I knew almost immediately that it was going to be not only a poem, but a piece of my soul shared through art. Creating and putting together all of the parts of my art piece helped me process some of the trauma of my cancer experience, and it was an honor to see it amongst the other works of art at Gilda’s.”
— Alyssa“It was fun, but also an honor to be part of the show. I believe it quite kind and emboldening for our cancer patient community to have a platform and beautiful space to share aspects of our respective journeys through our individual chosen creative avenues of expression.
Personally, I was diagnosed with stage 4 Esophageal cancer in August of 2024. I began aggressive chemotherapy that September and went on disability from my workplace shortly thereafter. In December 2024, 2 weeks prior to Christmas I was unceremoniously terminated from my job after 16 years of employment via phone call. In January I began radiation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. By Spring I was deemed cancer free and that wonderful news lasted 11 months when I was again diagnosed with lung cancer this past February. After surgery in March, I was found cancer free, but the tumor was linked to my initial cancer, so I am now a stage 4 metastatic esophageal cancer patient, but honestly doing well with no spread thus far.
In discussing our individual stories with fellow cancer patients, I often find our conversations and revelations more honest and freer of potential emotional editing that we often invoke when discussing the realities of our illness with friends and even close family members. I believe the beauty of an art show, like the one we witnessed at Gilda’s Club, is the needed platform for creative expression, allowing us to reveal feelings and emotions we often suppress to avoid upsetting others. Or perhaps it allows us to visit challenging themes and realities via art that we may strategically look to regularly avoid. This art show is a gift of sorts and presents an opportunity to peel away the proverbial cancer onion and reveal some hard truths – if we so choose. If you give a room full of children a handful of artists’ supplies and let them organically express themselves, no matter their creative talents, you will find many revelatory expressions of what they may see and feel. I believe Gilda’s show to be no different and it was quite beautiful to witness the many unique avenues all of us chose to share a piece of ourselves to the community, while courageously battling this terrifying disease.”
— Cliff“I’ve taught journalism and video production at the college level for over 30 years, and have worked as a documentary and media storyteller for almost as long. Over the decades, I’ve worked on countless projects and told tons of stories for other people…. But never told one of my own.
Throughout my cancer journey, the diagnosis transformed from a terrifying and traumatic experience to a necessary lesson for survival. I saw cancer as an uninvited teacher – asking me to listen – and showing me a new life path waiting to be discovered. Through treatments, I decided to document my experience with photos and videos and wasn’t sure how or if I’d ever share them.
Once I heard about the art show, I immediately thought — this would be a great artistic opportunity to share my story and hopefully help others by shifting their perspective on cancer.
The experience was actually harder than I thought it would be…. As I started organizing my thoughts and quotes, I found out I had way too much to share and knew I needed to keep it short to hold people’s attention. Looking at photos of myself “collapsing” during chemo was shocking at first. But then they reminded me of how strong I was to endure such a scary and barbaric treatment, and fortunate to be on the other side regaining my health. Overall, it was extremely therapeutic to look back and see my transformation and then try and find the best way to use these images to help others as I assembled my story.
Creating this video helped me process my own cancer journey. It made me beyond grateful to look at photos of support- from the team that got me through chemo and radiation, to my friends who joined me at last year’s Gilda’s walk. Also, I intentionally reached out to a musician I met at one of Gilda’s events to see if she would contribute to the story with her flute music. She is so gifted and one piece in particular captured exactly the mood I wanted to express… a joyful, humble, lifting piece to bring light to the video after the dark storm. It felt hopeful and positive to include her gift in the video. I hope to be able to show the video again and more than just one night at the clubhouse to help others.”
— Tess