Braving the Wind: Kara’s Story
Kara, a young woman, had been battling cancer for several years. To portray her story for ArtPrize 2011, I combined the paintings of Kara in Braving the Wind with an interactive metal Healing Tree. Visitors were invited to write notes, honoring loved ones struggling with cancer and then hanging the notes on the tree. This was the first time I created an interactive healing installation. Now visitors had the opportunity to expand the work with their own stories.
Years later, Kara and I reconnected. We had a special opportunity to sit down and discuss our ArtPrize journey: An immersive experience with the ArtPrize audience. Art had made a bridge for us to connect and develop a special friendship while the art also had created a pathway to inspire exhibit visitors. Through Kara’s perseverance and willingness to help others—in the midst of her own reoccurring cancer battle—20,000 ArtPrize visitors ended up being inspired to participate.
How can you encourage a friend or loved one battling cancer or simply help a friend in need?
Visit healinginarts.org to learn more about our inspirational work.
In 2011, during the Braving the Wind installation, one young woman waited at the Healing Tree with her phone while her friend spent the last minutes with their dying friend, James. The minute James died, the phone call came and the young woman hung a card on the tree—a sacred moment for the two survivors.
Many ArtPrize visitors have asked, “What will happen to the Healing Tree after ArtPrize 2011?”