SCAR project visits, initiates dialogues
The walls of a downtown Cincinnati gallery will be filled with portraits of young women and their scars. The large-scale portraits, all of women ages 18 to 35, are of breast cancer survivors photographed by New York fashion photographer David Jay for The SCAR project, which aims to raise awareness of an often overlooked group of women who are diagnosed with the disease. The international exhibit will stop in Cincinnati for four days – Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. The exhibit is a reminder that, this year, more than 10,000 women younger than 40 will be diagnosed with cancer, according to the exhibit’s website. The Pulitzer-nominated project’s mission? It’s three-fold: raise public consciousness of early-onset breast cancer, fundraise for research and outreach programs, and help young survivors “see their scars, faces, figures and experiences through a new, honest and ultimately empowering lens.” “We feel these pictures need to be seen,” exhibit organizers write. “Primarily an awareness-raising campaign, The SCAR Project puts a raw, unflinching face on early onset breast cancer while paying tribute to the courage and spirit of so many brave young women.” One of the women featured in the exhibit – who also helped to plan the local showing – is Cincinnati’s own Vanessa Teimeier. Teimeier, who now lives in Delhi, was 25 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. To date, she writes on the blog, the cancer has spread to her bones, lungs and lymph nodes. In the post, dated Sept. 13, she writes that, during a recent visit to her doctor, they discovered cancer in the lining of her brain. “I feel like this aligns with the mission and the object of The SCAR project,” she writes. “The exhibition proves that so many women, young women, live with breast cancer everyday and that their struggle never goes away. … Life’s not easy, but I am challenging everyone out there to live, really live. If for no one else, do it for me.” The SCAR project will be hosted by Art Design Consultants, 310 Culvert St. Tickets for the opening night gala are $200. General admission tickets are $15, and walking tour tickets are $35. Dates and times are available on the website. Do Good: • Follow the luminaries: On opening night, luminaries to guide the way into the gallery will be lit in honor of those who lost their battle with breast cancer and for those still fighting the disease. Submit a donation to be part of the event. • Volunteer: Cincinnati’s planning committee is made up of four women and volunteers are needed. To volunteer, sign up here. • Donate: Donating to the cause helps fund research and outreach programs and allows more women to participate in the empowering project. By Taylor Dungjen
