About the Exhibition: Journey to New Beginnings is an impactful exhibition/fundraising event showcasing breast cancer awareness art. A collection of digital art, drawings, high relief sculptures, paintings, mixed media, photography, and prints that chronicle the journey of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer; a circuit of stacked art depicting the stages of diagnosis, treatment, remission, and transformation. The show affords viewers intimate glimpses into their lives, and honors sculptor Sandra Joy Perini, who recently died of metastatic breast cancer. Featured Artist: Sandra Joy Perini Invited Artists: Olga Bussot Ileana Collazo Kelly Fawaz Caryn Laufer Frishman Alina Ko Sonia Sanchez Nieto Puchi Noriega Shahina Siddiqi Rosaria Aestus Vigorito Macarena Zilveti The show is comprised of the works of 7 women affected by cancer; the other creatives joined to support them in their quest to promote breast cancer awareness. The message emphasizes the importance of early detection that saves lives. Sandra Perini’s high-relief sculptures bookend the works on view; including her “Women of Faith” and the “Tree of Life” - a sculpture that symbolizes hope. Special Appearance: The Heroine’s choir, an amazing group of women cancer survivors.
Organized by: Alina Ko Robert Montesino Curated by: Alina Ko Exhibition Sponsor: Y2T Media In collaboration with: ARTfull Angels, Angela R. Taylor, CEO; a nonprofit organization that provides free financial support for mammogram screenings, diagnosic imaging, and breast cancer care for uninsured women. Secondary Exhibition Sponsors: Fatima Canovas, Art Daily News International Magazine Teo Freytes, MSA Xperimental Magazine Donations by: Pilar Gray Benitez Ileana Collazo Olga Tranquilino Rosaria Aestus Vigorito Contributions by: David Chaskes Antonio Del Moral Les Feldman Mike Hellum Monte Perini Randy Perini John Taggart About the Gallery: Located in Little Havana's Art District, the gallery opened its door to the public April of 2010, with the mission of promoting and representing local and global emerging and established artists. Adelmo has, for over a decade, showcased a new emerging artist each last Friday of each month during the Little Havana Art Walk.
Featured Artist:
Sandra Joy Perini
Artist Bio: Primarily a self-taught painter/sculptor, Sandra Perini was born in Coconut Grove, Florida on October 4, 1954. She received her Degree f in Fashion Design from Miami Dade Community College, and lived in Stuart, Florida for several years; where she owned and managed Create the Look clothing and art boutique. Sandy studied under art with Denise Justice, a Stuart gallery owner, from 2001 to 2003, and received sculpting lessons 2001 to 2002 from another fellow gallerist who opened her world to sculpture and casting. She moved to Charleston, South Carolina for two years, where Low Country Artist Gallery exhibited and sold her work. Her later move to Gatlinburg, TN marks the beginning of her Ministry Art Series; where Art for God Gallery represented her work and sold one of her “Tree of Life“, “Collect my Tears in a Bottle”, and “Before I knew you” paintings/sculptures. Upon her return to Palm Bay, Florida, she set up her studio. In her last residence in North Miami, she continued work until her death from metastatic breast cancer on February 2, 2019. This impressive creative produced a large body of work during her life too short lifetime. Ministry Art, as described in Sandra’s words is “Art that is used for Christian Ministry or any other Ministry that makes viewers connect and makes them feel, as well as think, in a deeper way than a pretty landscape or interesting abstract. In short, Ministry Art tells a story and demonstrates a truth that invokes feelings of thankfulness, comfort, security, hope, faith, joy and peace. It can also compel the viewer to re-think spiritual beliefs or convict him of his need to change behaviors or values.“
“Wash Over Me” | Sandra Joy Perini | High Relief Sculpture | Acrylic on Plexiglas 24x30 in.
“Women of Faith” | Sandra Joy Perini | High Relief Sculpture | Acrylic on Plexiglas 36x24 in.
“Tree of Life” | Sandra Joy Perini | High Relief Sculpture | Acrylic on Plexiglas | 32x34 in.
Get Tested, Be Safe Invited Artists Comments: What Cancer Taught Me “I feel cancer was a wakeup call, is like God was telling me is time to brighten up and switch to a present state of mind. We get sick because of stress, or because we are living either in the past or anticipating the future. The present is a gift that we must treasure, we need to learn to live today and enjoy every moment we can of every day. Learn to appreciate breathing by ourselves, walking, talking, seeing, and hearing. There are so many things to be grateful for, and we don’t appreciate them. Instead, we focus on what we don’t have without realizing that we have the most important thing of all, LIFE. Loose the fear of death, the fear of living, and trust that everything will be alright.” Puchi Noriega What did you learn? “Patience.” Angela R. Taylor Has cancer been a transformative experience? “Cancer has made me realize how thankful we should be for every second. My mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother are all survivors and that has also made us see ourselves as strong, powerful women!” What did you learn about yourself? “I learned to love my breasts, and realized how important they are.” Breasts symbolize LOVE, FEMALE, SEXINESS, NURTURING, FOOD FOR OUR BABIES, MOTHERHOOD, MILK, WOMANHOOD... They are what makes us WOMEN!” Macarena Zilveti “Cancer taught me to accept what you cannot control! Cancer taught me that little things, while they seem huge at the moment, are tiny in comparison to facing cancer; especially having young children! Cancer also taught me how important being a health advocate for oneself is! I NEVER wish anyone to hear those dreaded words, but going through such a scary time, has truly helped make me the person I am today!” Caryn Frishman “Of course cancer changed my life and I asked myself. Why me? Being so young, questions continued to fill my mind, and then I asked myself. If I lose my breast would it affect my marriage? There were so many ideas and questions that I became depressed. I woke up from my
operation wondering. Did I lose my breast? Thank God, I did not. The operation was a success; the surgeon kissed me and told me everything was fine. Did cancer transform me? Yes, it made me the strong woman I am today. I did not let this terrible disease destroy me. I continued living my life accepting that which destiny had reserved for me... and above all, I learned that I am not better or worse than anyone else, that life gives us challenges and we must accept them. While I received treatment for my cancer, I continued working. Keeping busy, and the love and support of my family and coworkers helped me go through this difficult phase. Today, it has been 21 years that I am free from cancer, and as I awaken each day, I thanks God for carrying me through this difficult journey. This is my story.” Olga Bussot “I thought I had let go of the illusion of being in control, I hadn’t. I knew I had lost years of living the kind of creative life I had in New York, and became creative again; passionate, because I could be.” Alina Ko “I have had to deal with the cancer experience, not just from afar, but intimately. I lived through my mother’s colon cancer; which she survived, only for her to get stomach cancer years later and die from it. In the midst those experiences, I also went through my personal journey with the disease when I was diagnosed and underwent surgery for ovarian cancer; followed by chemotherapy and all of its related issues. Surviving all of these experiences was difficult enough, but when my mother was diagnosed with stomach cancer, it stirred many new fears in me; aside from having to witness what she went through. Going through all this is, by default, life altering. You may think things can go back to “normal”, but the normal is different. In fact, for me, it has given me a heightened sense of the temporal nature of our lives. Life is immediate and fragile. Being anything less than authentic and true to others and t yourself is unacceptable. I do not have time for “bullshit” or nonsense. And, for me, even in my darkest moments - although in my mind I am sometimes a doubter - in my heart, where it really matters, I sense a higher source; a God, who is always with me, guiding me and holding me dear. Through all of this, I have lost the innocent sense of invincibility, as in, ‘in it cannot happen to me. This stuff happens to others.’ No one is spared. Unfortunately, dreaded cancer has affected, and still directly or indirectly affects, many, many lives. I prefer anyone die of anything else, but of that. And I pray that a real and lasting cure for all types of cancer becomes a reality in the foreseeable future. As for the advice I would offer others and survivors like me; always show gratitude for your blessings and never, ever take anyone or anything for granted especially your time on this earth. Moreover, do not delay the pursuit of your passions. Finally, make your hope and faith your higher source” Rosaria Aestus Vigorito “Ministry Art and The Journey to New Beginnings were conceived and organized in honor of Sandra Joy Perini; an intrinsically participating artist in her own right. Her biblically themed artwork is the essence of ecumenicalism; a Christian woman raised a Jew depicting strong Old Testament heroines like Ester. Sandra fought a courageous battle against the horror that cancer
is; in spite of how it was affecting her body. Oftentimes, while in pain and under the morphine she was given to ease her pain, she carried on with her work. Sandy never let her illness keep her from passionately adding to her life’s work: ‘Ministry Art.’ Her sculptures frame the narrative of the Journey to New Beginnings because, although she died from metastatic breast cancer, her graceful spirit is ever present as a guiding light; God’s girl, for sure.” Robert Anthony Montesino “I’d only met our honoree Sandy Perini twice, and thought her a warm, kind, intelligent woman; a creative who’s exquisite sculptures and paintings have inspirited several exhibits. A gifted artist and spiritually woke daughter of God called home too soon.” Alina Ko
Invited Artists:
“The Naked Truth” | Olga Bussot |Acrylic on Canvas | 10x8 in
“Sheltered from the Storm� | Ileana Collazo | Digital Art | 20x 24 in.
“The Lady” | Kelly Fawaz | Acrylic on Canvas | 20x16 in.
“Floral Love” | Caryn Laufer Frishman | Mixed Media 10x10 in.
“Breastfeeding" | Alina Ko | Acrylic on Canvas | 36x24 in.
“Diagnosis” | Sonia Sanchez Nieto | Acrylic and ink on Paper | 12x9 in.
“We are Energy: | Puchi Noriega | Acrylic on Canvas | 22.5x18.6 in.
“The Victory” | Shahina Siddiqi | Acrylic on Canvas | 24x20 in.
“Contemplative� | Rosaria Aestus Vigorito | Oil on Linen | 36x12 in.
“Seno VIV | Macarena Zilveti | Mixed Media | 15.5x12 in.
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