National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Traveling Exhibition Comes to Georgia June 4 - July 30

Madison, GA (May 4) - The highly acclaimed exhibition body image / body essence, a collection of works by sculptor John Magnan, will open June 4 with an Opening Celebration from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Steffen Thomas Museum and Archives, located near Madison, Georgia. 

   The exhibit is sponsored by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. This will be the only Georgia venue for this very important exhibition.

   The exhibit features works that are a response by the artist to his wife’s diagnosis of ovarian cancer and subsequent treatment. Powerfully affected by the total surprise of her diagnosis and the ordeal of her surgery and treatment, he responded with an unblinking artistic look at the experience of dealing with cancer.

   The 15 works of sculpture that comprise body image | body essence consistently reach viewers on multiple levels. Visitors are at first captivated by its creative energy, and then are unsuspectingly drawn in to its direct look at life with cancer. For those experiencing the art of body image~body essence, many lasting impressions remain:

   Catharsis and Validation … survivors and family members learn that they are not alone, that their struggle is real and shared by others.

   Visual Vocabulary … for those who haven't found the right words, the art of sculpture helps survivors explain their feelings about cancer to loved ones.

   Awareness … people learn about ovarian cancer and its symptoms and the challenges one faces when living with the disease and its treatment.

   Courage, Hope and Love … the story of a husband and wife confronting the fear of cancer, and the resulting artwork that followed, offer inspiration to others who share their journey.

   The Opening Celebration will be held June 4 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. and will feature a presentation by the artist at 6:30 p.m.

   Other events include informal talks with various physicians familiar with ovarian cancer. These will be held throughout the course of the exhibit.

   The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is the leading ovarian cancer public information and educational organization in the United States. NOCC initiated the first toll free ovarian cancer information line (1-800 OVARIAN), maintains the most comprehensive website for ovarian cancer support in the world (www.ovarian.org) and has built a network of many state divisions across the US.

   As the largest provider of care to cancer patients in New England a leading center in the United States, the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center stands at the forefront in the fight against cancer. With state-of-the art, comprehensive and personalized care, the staff of the MGH Cancer Center strives to improve the quality of life of patients’ lives.

   The Steffen Thomas Museum and Archives is located just six miles from downtown historic Madison, Georgia. The museum is dedicated to perpetuating the artistic legacy of German born Georgia artist, Steffen Thomas (1906-1990), who settled in Georgia after immigrating to the US in 1928. The museum is proud to be the Georgia host for this exhibition. 

   For more information about this exhibition or for directions to the Steffen Thomas Museum, please call 1-800-709-7406.