Nanci Hersh: April 2011

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Shadows as my Mantra

People say I'm lazy dreaming my life away
Well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
Don't you miss the big time boy you're no longer on the ball?

- from Watching the Wheels Go Round and Round

John Lennon

This is my time of watching the shadows on the wall- or the ground.

Resting and recuperating as I allow a new way of being to unfold. One of not being so busy, so driven, so something. It is challenging. I like doing things, being out in the world, but to quote one of the few, but favorite passages Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 from the Bible that I know... "to everything there is a season..."

That said, we are off to Paris a week from today! A belated birthday present and a wonderful getaway before all my treatments begin this month.

Oo la la!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Spring Festivities

Dream Hare, 1988

Oil on Canvas

30" x 40"

Be it Passover, Easter, or just Spring Fever... may this season be full of hope and new beginnings....

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Art Heals

Whether you are looking at art, or making it; art has the ability to transform our experience.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center gets it.

The Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center houses a major collection of paintings, works on paper, photographs and some sculpture, as does their other buildings. Art fills the hallways and entry ways.

I was pleased to see some of Joyce Kozloff's small maps in the building on 53rd street where my plastic surgeon has his office.

The only place that art was missing was in my room- though it did have a magnetized bulletin board.

Fortunately, the 15th floor in the main hospital housed a recreation room, along with an outdoor patio (fresh air and sunshine!) and some interesting shadows (of course I had my camera!)

There was also live music at the time, a library, work tables, a sink and storage closets full of art and craft supplies. A young woman assisted me in gathering up an assortment of quality brushes, heavier paper, watercolors and watercolor pencils.

I spent some time working freely, playfully, and enjoying the reprieve from being a patient.

10.5" x 7.5"
Watercolor on paper
©2011NanciHersh

7.5" x 10.5"
Watercolor on paper
©2011NanciHersh

Now, I had art for my room.

How have you used art to transform your space or experience?

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Angels Among Us

Private Collection

Still here at Memorial Sloan Kettering... all is well except for some rashes and swelling that kept me here longer than expected. I pretend that I am at a spa and am enjoying the R & R and room service!

I am on a "Women's Only" floor. This is a more pleasant experience than 8 years ago, when I was treated in New Jersey at a hospital where there were not enough beds in Surgical Oncology. Placed on the orthopedics floor where the touch was not always sensitive and the environment not too appealing.

Here, there is art on the walls and a recreation room on the 15th floor with entertainment and activities as well as an outdoor patio.

I quickly found some paints, brushes and paper and did a few loose watercolors, which are now pinned up in my room

The phone calls, emails and FB comments from family and friends continues to remind me how truly blessed I am.

And as in Tribute above, I am in the company of Angels who have been taking care of me.

Today's highlight: getting my hair washed!