Calling all Survivors Whom Make Art!

Things are going better for me now, I feel incredibly fortunate to have done so well. My last PET scan showed a complete metabolic respond! I just had my 27th birthday and I have 2 years to go to get out of the higher probable relapse period.

and oh yea, Im an artist. I think I forgot for time when things were the darkest. But the amazing thing is Its all still there.

For this reason I am inclined to curate a show consisting of other cancer survivors. So if your out there drop me a line! I would love to show what you make, made or are going to make to help create more awareness of the kind of experience we have both in myself and in the world at large.

See my web sight for contact at:

www.brettalexthomas.com

or my facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/brett.a.thomas.7

I would love to see what you make...

A Hat from Brighid Connors

Wow, hey hows Alfred University these days? Its amazing how many of us there are and how much of a presence this University has and will have in your life even after you graduate.

I want to come to your thesis show. When is it? I hope your still casting candy, and..,, I LOVE STRIPES! no seriously I think I have a problem.

A hat from Kate Lepore

I was sitting at a table thinking about how lonely I was feeling bitter about a residual mass drinking black coffee and a package arrived at the door with a hat and biscotti to sweeten the bitterness.

Thanks Kate! I hope your architectural restoration program is going well, and I hope that you are finding happiness in your life. Your got a friend in me!

I believe that you are a truly kind hearted individual.

A hat from Sarah Whitlock

Hey! Thanks for thinking of me. I love the pumpkin colored, where the wild thing are hat that makes me feel like a king when I wear it. You are an amazing person for sending me this after only knowing me for two short weeks at the Watershed Center for ceramic arts kiln building residency. I wonder how that huge wood kiln that we built is fairing the firings?

A Hat from Kat Lesko.

Thanks for the hoot of hat darlin! I hope you faired the frankenstorm well and that your children are getting through the flu that they had last week. I remember you most as a strong woman with long sturdy legs that can fair the storm as mine did for me.

You should know that I am here for you as you are for me.

A view with a distance...

It has been a while.

To those of you whom are suffering through the dilemma of Hodgkins disease I want you to know that there is hope. There is in fact so much in the world that it may be difficult for you to keep up with the beautiful storm of concerns that comes your way in an experience like cancer. While it is difficult at times you must be aware that anyone whom asks you about how you are doing believes that your existence as a human being on this planet is a good one.

I also have waxed and wined in the difficulty that is sickness now for some time to have surmounted the harshness and become a survivor. My purpose was only as a visitors was in the land of the sick.

I hope that anyone whom reads this posesses the capability to keep strong and steadfast though sickness. For me this meant giving myself a break, giving myself a forgiveness and being nice to myself for the failing that occur as a result of a sickness that is by no means self inflicted.

Id like to hope that any other human being in sickness would do this to.

A hat from Jim Convery

Let me tell you, its hard to beat a hat like this when your on Assateague Island with pones that might bite you if your not careful.  A hat that mustered transit un-benounced to me after building pipelines somewhere in the Australian desert? Yep. Thank to the artist formerly known as chief pipe inspector, Jim Convery. This hat was a true surprise. What was also a true surprise was the fact that we have the same size head. I remember Jim Convery coming up to the kiln shed at watershed before anyone else in the morning. His firing shift coming after mine was subject to a mostly drunk and crazed version of myself. Watching the sunrise that morning was a gift at watershed Center for Ceramic art. The only thing that was keeping me awake was the caffeinated chewing gum i happened to have that a friend of mine brought back from Afghanistan.  Hope you're well Jim, hope to see you soon.

A Hat from Litlle Gary

Good old American weathered gold, a rare occasion upon my thinning forests. A rare occasion on my lush forests, a rare occasion upon my cranium at all. The irony and embrace-meant is excellent of all previous cranium covering endeavors. I do need to learn to embrace myself and to embrace where I come from. Interesting that these hats come from an old punk rock friend. Hey Gary, remember when we drove to New Orleans in my tiny rusty pickup truck with tow people in the front, two people in the back under the cap and a cat? That rocked.

A Hat From Peggy

Monkey on your back? Monkey on your back? nope monkey on your head! HAH!

This lovely cancer survivor is now wearing a sporting plush monkey hat supplied form another one of his most favorite places on this tiny blue planet Earth, Lake Winola!

Many laughs have already been had and many are to come for such a comical oddity. Thanks Peggy!

I love it. Who needs a kayaking hat, when you can have a kayaking monkey anyhow...

First Treatment Photo

Its amazing how many tests I have had done on me. I have certainly lost track. This picture, taken by a lovely miss Sarah Hope is from my first Chemo Treatment. There keeping an extra eye on my heart for 5 dollar meal tickets at the potbelly sandwich works in the hospital cafeteria. Its classified as a medical study of some sort. The main benefit for me being extra eyes on my heart. I didn't get a meal ticket this last week. It makes me want to get ornery just for entertainment sake. There is something so ridiculous about the meal ticket thing for me. All well, at least its a way for them to let me know that they appreciate my help. It the end it is more important to me to help those next in line for the ABVD, Adriamycin being the drug that is related to heart problems.

Hats From the Smith Girls

Thanks to the Smith girls for these fantastic hats from the past. The hat pin is a bit intimidating, but I still find them to be exhilarating!  They both remind me of a wonderful place in the little town of Hornel, New York. The Erie Line Antiques Mart, my favorite junk store to date.

I hope you Guys are having fun Laura and Emily. Your dance tour must be about to get rolling.

I know these hats brightened my day.

PS: I think the jumping Mexican Beans escaped during transit. They were no where to be found in the box, but were on the inventory list.

A Hat From My Mother

Starting the showcase: A Hat From My Mother. It was purchased at Firehouse Bicycles in West Philadelphia, a bike shop I have been going to with her since I was eight years old.
My mother is and will be the only participant in this project of which I picked the hat out for. This may appear strange as it is of coarse the hat I will be wearing on my bald chemo head. But then, hey why not, she has been buying me socks and underwear for my entire life. What can I say? We just have a different kind of close relationship in this way. She is my mom after all.

I have had allot of questions about my new fledgling hat collection. Many people just want to get me a gift card so I can go buy myself a hat but this will simply not due. I need my friends to understand that this project for me is a deeper form of self exploration. One which transcends the material needs of my nature as a consumer. I do not want to go out and buy a hat collection because I believe that when I am wearing a hat from a friend it is in essence an extension of their personality. Their personality thus becoming much closer to me in a comforting way that I dearly need on some dark mornings. My fantastic hat collection becomes a beacon of support in this way of those whom love and care about my need to transcend beyond the menial metaphors of what it means to be a cancer patient.

Waiting for My Hairs Summertime Vacation: Its Going to Skip Town But I'm Not.

 

 

 

Greater Need of finding my lives purpose lead me to return to School for the Arts. An associates degree from the Community College of Philadelphia, A bachelors Degree From the Pre-Eminent Ceramics College, Alfred University and Several art residencies later Including a time in Paris France Has Landed me where I am now.

As an Art History Student preparing for graduate Studies
As an Artist Stil searching for Purpose
As a Hodgkin's Lymphoma Survivor

I will post my experience here for you to view along with hats that my family freinds send me in support of my recovery.