Los Gatos Weekly-Times Photograph by George Sakkestad Bonnie Stone's second apron project is on display at Westgate Mall though Oct. 18 and will be featured Oct. 29 at Quinlan Community Center, Cupertino. Telling Tales Bonnie Stone's apron project gives breast cancer survivors an emotional outlet By Michelle Gabriel Designating just one month for breast cancer awareness is a little like setting aside one day a year to recognize Mom or Dad. One day or one month is hardly enough time to do justice to either cause. This is certainly the case with breast cancer, since an estimated 2.6 million women are living with the disease and another one million do not know they have it. Still, given the fact that a little information goes a long way, there is merit in bringing these subjects to national attention, even for such a short duration. And that's what award-winning Saratoga artist Bonnie Stone has set out to do. Working with Bay Area Breast Cancer Network (BABCN), she invited members of the organization to participate in her second apron project titled "We All Have a Story to Tell." Using words and/or pictures that were either painted, pasted or sewn onto canvas aprons to express anger, humor, memories or dreams envisioned for themselves as well as for their family, apron-project participants provided a window into the hearts and souls of cancer survivors, friends and relatives. "My apron is a tribute and dedication to the lives of my heroes, loved ones, friends, acquaintances and myself," says Los Gatos breast cancer survivor Tosca Lewis. "Those of us who by some simple twist of fate have been chosen to be a part of a very unique sisterhood ... breast cancer victims, survivors and statistics." It is that simple twist of fate, which Lewis mentions, that brought 16 women and one man (in memory of his wife) together in an artistic expression of shared experiences. It took a little more than a year to complete the project, but when it was done, the aprons, used as artistic narratives, reflect personal stories that are honest, compelling and deeply moving. These narratives, "We All Have a Story to Tell," will be on exhibit Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino. Also featured that evening will be Michael D. Lagios, a breast cancer pathologist who will discuss "Understanding Breast Health and Breast Cancer." The event, sponsored by the BABCN as part of its Open Door Education Forums, is free and open to the public. It is also the second venue for the aprons, Stone says. "The aprons are on display through Oct. 18 at Westgate Mall in San Jose, and I am now in the process of discussing the possibility of exhibiting the aprons at the Koret Galley in Palo Alto in October or November 1999." Stone, who describes her role in the project as that of a facilitator, says she has been more than impressed with the widespread interest it has generated. "I'm thrilled with the positive feedback and support I am receiving from the community regarding this project," she says. "It seems to be taking on a life of its own." Her comment is not too far off the mark. Life, with all its frailties, is very much the focal point of many of the aprons. Along with symbols of loved ones and important landmarks, Saratoga resident Lynda Fox created a tapestry on which she placed "the people, experiences and objects which have had the most meaning and importance in my life. It is a celebration of a life that has been primarily happy, but also a life that has had its share of sadness." Scattered throughout her apron are photos of treasured friends, as well as pins and mementos Fox says recall events and involvements in her life. "I have been fortunate to have lived a mostly joyous and privileged life. However, there has been a dark side, too. The pink ribbon depicts breast cancer; it is a reminder that I live with this disease hanging over my head on a daily basis. The black ribbons acknowledge private losses and sorrows; the sadness, pain, despairs and disappointments that come with living." Dianne Portnoy, another Saratoga resident, included along with symbols of her family and friends a reminder of radiation therapy she says is "gone but not forgotten." Others used their apron to describe important events and personal values. Using both sides of her apron, Cupertino resident Helen Victoria Knisely included a map of the world to indicate having lived in China for 14 years and in Brazil for six years before coming to America. "Music notations indicate the importance of music in my life, and a hand mirror signifies, 'What have you accomplished today? Have you been true to yourself? Have you practiced compassion? Have you prayed today?" A picture of a clown represents her attitude: "There may be pain, but others have pain far deeper than mine, and so I try to cheer them up. Humor helps the world go 'round!" In fact, humor is also very much a part of many of the apron narratives. Ginger Young, a Los Gatos resident, describes her apron as a collection of her life "chronicled by highlighting points of interest in a highly messy scrapbook style. It reminds me of my refrigerator." Young layers her apron beginning with the past, "once upon a time," moving into "earthquake 7.0" when health, finance and personal issues began to deteriorate, then on to her "breast cancer journey," and continuing through to the last layer which Young says suggests "healing that is both natural and spiritual." It is in the spirit of healing that these apron narratives take on a deeper level of purpose and accomplishment. "Any creative process can be part of healing," says Elaine Dornig, president, executive director and founding member of BABCN, and a breast cancer survivor. "When an individual is finished with the surgery and the treatment, she is not immediately through with the healing. This apron project represents an opportunity for reflection and the acknowledgment of what women were able to do in order to get through the process." The apron project also provided an opportunity to bring a greater awareness not only to the public about breast cancer, but to government officials as well. According to Nadine Fralick, legislative chair, BABCN co-founder and apron-project participant, the project will help increase awareness on a government level. "One of the goals of our advocacy is to educate the public in general and our legislators in particular about the terrible epidemic of breast cancer," Fralick says. "My apron attempts to demonstrate that each individual's effort is important and, particularly when combined with the efforts of others, that there is a synergistic effect that takes place." Fralick attached cards, which had been sent to Congress, to the apron strings. As more and more breast cancer groups from across the nation were added, Fralick says the organization obtained increased governmental funds for breast cancer research. "My hope and firm belief is that one of these days soon, we will find a cure for breast cancer so that my kids and their families will not have to endure the tragedies that this disease can bring." "We're also planning to add one more apron to the group of aprons," Dornig adds, "a collective expression of lives and stories on one apron that will be representative of all the women lost to breast cancer." Bay Area Breast Cancer Network is a nonprofit organization funded in 1990 by a small group of breast cancer survivors. The organization is committed to finding the cause, prevention and cure for breast cancer through education, support and advocacy. Services offered include hotline information and resources, support groups, a speakers bureau, newsletter and open-door education forums. For additional information, contact Bay Area Breast Cancer Network at 408/261-1425. Facts about Breast Cancer * Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women. An estimated 2.6 million women are living with breast cancer, one million do not know that they have the disease. * One out of eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. This rate has more than doubled in the past 30 years. * We do not know what causes breast cancer. Treatments of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation have changed very little in time. * The death rate from breast cancer has not changed in 50 years. 25 percent of white women diagnosed die within five years. 38 percent of African American women die within five years. 40 percent of all women die within 10 years, * Breast cancer is the leading killer of American women 35 to 54 years old. Breast cancer risk increases with age. Two-thirds of all breast cancers occur in women over 50. * Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. 70 percent of breast cancers occur in women with no risk factors. * Mammography is detection, not prevention. A tumor can be present for six to ten years before it is detected by mammography. Mammography fails to detect about 20 percent of breast cancers. * 182,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 46,000 women will die. In the 12-year Vietnam War 58,000 Americans died. Almost that many die from breast cancer each year. * Most breast changes are found by women themselves. Practice breast self-examination. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, October 14, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.