My piece was created after a lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. I had just lost my best friend to stomach cancer when they found my lung cancer. I was treated with radiation. It was a stressful time for me and my family. 
 
This piece was very cathartic in that it allowed me to dispel some of the anger in a non violent manner. You can see the chaos and frustration in the piece. The gold and white represent freedom while the black and dark red represent the fear and anger. It is dark but it brought me light.

Long before I was diagnosed with bone cancer as a young adult, I enjoyed the creative process and making art. 
 
Throughout my cancer treatments, I learned to see the transcendent beauty that simple art materials can create while simultaneously providing comfort during times of pain, sadness and grief. The drawings and artwork I created during that time became a visual record of my journey — transforming my fears and challenges into strength and hope.  
 
Over the past decade, I have been creating dozens of tiny roll-up beads with messages of inspiration, love and hope written inside each bead. From the hand-painted canvas strips, to the colored yarn, beads, feathers and charms, every bead in this collection is unique. Every bead is created with intention and purpose. Some beads celebrate a milestone — like a clear scan or follow up visit with my oncologist, while other beads are in memory of loved ones  — both beloved humans and pets affected by cancer. 
 
Just as this bead collection is unique and meaningful, I am a human on a lifetime journey informed by cancer and holding space for hope - one bead at a time. 

Hold Space for Hope

My army son had taken the family to a gun range to show us how to shoot. I was terrified. I didn't have much courage. 

This army son, who is 27 years old, won't find out if he is a BRCA2 carrier like myself and my daughter. That is a type of courage which the women in my family have. 

Which courage is greater? 

This mixed media work has the gun range paper from that day underneath the art. 

The Journey

By Janice Williams

October 19th, 2022

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