By Juliet Kadzviti

Exhibit puts spotlight on women’s health and body concerns

Feb 5, 2016 | 5:48 AM

A local artist has created a project to showcase women’s strength in the face of unthinkable situations.

Last year, Cheryl Ring met with 46 women – some of whom are breast cancer survivors – to cast a clay mold of their breasts. The intimate and anonymous casts are on display at the Prince Albert Arts Centre and Ring said serve as a symbol for survival and self-acceptance.

“Basically, (the project) references how women relate to their bodies, how they feel about their bodies and how it’s all related to self-esteem. Wrapped up in all that is breast cancer; something that women of all ages and demographics have to deal with. It’s almost like an epidemic,” Ring said.

The idea for the project evolved shortly after her mother passed away. Ring had a curious encounter with two women who had known her mom.

“They were discussing (breast cancer) in a very light manner. They were very comical, they were being funny but at the same time it was heartbreaking that there was two out of three women who had breast cancer,” she said.

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“That event started me thinking about how we relate to ourselves as women. How do you go about reconciling yourself when you lose a breast, when all our lives we have related our breasts as a sign and symbol of femininity?” Ring said.

Ring said the process of casting the molds allowed some of the women to bond and sparked interesting conversations about their bodies.

“Everyone was very excited and very happy to participate. When it came time to actually having the casts done, there were some tears but they were tears of growth, I believe. It was a step for them to actually have this done and show me, and the viewers, the aftermath of their struggle,” she added.

Ring said the conversation didn’t stop when participants left, “the thought process continued.” She hopes the viewers of the art will do the same.

The exhibit is called, “The Onion Project: Revealing layers of ourselves” and is currently showing at the John V. Hicks Gallery at the Art Centre. The official opening for the exhibit will be on Feb. 6, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. It will be showing until Feb. 23.

jkadzviti@jpbg.ca

@princealbertnow