My love for horses started at a young age and has continued now that I&#39;m an adult. Horses have taught me life lessons that will have an impact on the rest of my life. Setting goals, learning to fail, responsibility, and patience were all life lessons that horses have provided me. This photograph is of my rescue horse named Ted, who has changed my life for the better and has made me into the person that I am today

Rooted is a collage. I used acrylics for the background, along with a polymer face and composite elements. 
 
Making visual art, as well as writing poetry and essays, have been central to my healing journey. Both forms of expression enable me to express my emotions in a variety of ways. I have used poetry to document significant aspects of my cancer journey. Though most of my artwork is not focused on cancer, I find the process of making visual art to be healing. I often work with a group of women who are non-judgmental and provide support for each other. While some of my creative expression was done at Gilda&rsquo;s Club in the Capital Region of New York, I have found my own group for writing and making visual art. There is something healing in being with a caring group of women who aren&rsquo;t worrying about the final product. We consider being creative a healing art and a spiritual practice. 
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I have Waldenstrom&rsquo;s macroglobulinemia and amyloidosis, both of which are incurable. I have been though years of treatment and am very fortunate to be in a durable partial remission. I took early retirement from practicing law in large part because of my health challenges. Crucial to the healing qualities of my visual expression is not having objectives, other than self-expression and relaxation. 
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Ted

By Alaina Coote

February 2nd, 2020

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