Teena Liesenfelt is a breast cancer survivor. So is her mother and so is her grandmother. She’s also president of the Broward Art Guild, which opened its latest exhibit, “Think Pink,” in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“A walk through the ‘Think Pink’ exhibit feels like a profound journey through my own experiences and emotions,” says Liesenfelt.
The exhibition opened on Thursday, Oct. 3 and runs through Friday, Oct. 18 at the Broward Art Guild Gallery, 2052 E Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
When the call was put out for artists to submit, the works needed to showcase the color pink or convey themes related to breast cancer awareness.
“Each piece of art resonates deeply, capturing the raw vulnerability, strength, and resilience that define the cancer journey,” says Liesenfelt, herself an artist. “The colors, textures and forms evoke memories of the battles fought, the moments of despair and the triumphs celebrated.”
The Guild, now in its 74th year, is the largest and oldest active guild of artists in Broward County and works to encourage and promote the work of local artists, according to Liesenfelt.
With paintings, sculptures, photographs and jewelry items on display and for sale, works showcase the color pink or convey themes related to breast cancer awareness.
“Seeing all the works of art in the ‘Think Pink’ exhibit takes me back to my own journey with breast cancer,” says Liesenfelt. “…All these pieces of art in one place brings back so many memories and feelings of both despair and triumph,” she says, adding that she finds solace in the work and comfort that she is not alone in her journey.
The works were judged by mixed-media artist Lori Arbel of Parkland, who was selected by the Broward Art Guild. Categories included Best in Show, second and third place, four honorable mentions and a Judges’ Recognition Award, all taking into consideration skill level and what Arbel determined was best representing the theme of the exhibit. On opening night, the art was for sale with a portion of the monies raised going to breast cancer support services.
“There is a wonderful array of mediums and techniques, intimate subject matters, wonderful compositions, mindful titles and a love of art for art’s sake,” says Arbel.
Arbel is an artist and former high school art teacher. She also created the #Marks4TheirLives, an all-virtual exhibition that is seeking 1.5 million “artful marks,” each representing children’s lives taken from in the Holocaust.
“In addition to the remarkable artistry in ‘Think Pink,’ there are emotions and thoughts embodied in each piece,” says Arbel, who has judged other art exhibits and shown her own work at museums and galleries.
“We all know someone who has faced this challenge and this exhibit is a reflection of our shared experiences and symbolizes the strength of community, the importance of empathy and the collective desire to inspire hope and healing,” she says, adding that the exhibit is personal; her grandmother fought breast cancer.
Pompano Beach-based artist Maria Galligan, 81, works mostly on large canvases using thick layers of oil paint known as impasto, to create her impressionist-style, colorful paintings.
Her 3-feet-by-3-feet bright pink, whimsical flower painting titled, “Does Pink Make You Smile?” is on display in the “Think Pink” exhibition.
Galligan, who was born in Hungary, fled the country in 1948 at the age of five with her family to escape the Soviet takeover, and first tried her hand at oil painting in 2000 after stumbling across an art book in a bookstore. She recalls telling herself, “I want to do that.”
She joined the Broward Art Guild the following year and says, “The Guild is a wonderful place for new artists to have a place to feel welcome and let their art grow.”
She credits Liesenfelt for her energy and commitment to the Guild.
“Teena is always encouraging and welcoming to new members,” she says. “She welcomed me and the Guild was the first place I exhibited my work.”
Also on display are the works of Lighthouse Point artist Susan David, 69, a mixed-media artist who creates colorful and light-hearted collages using recycled jewelry and objects she finds in thrift shops, yard sales and auctions.
“Piglet,” her 15-by-5-inch pink sculpture collaged in reclaimed jewelry and sealed with liquid glass, presents a whimsical and light-hearted depiction of the pudgy animal with a small green bird perched on his foot.
David has been a member of the Broward Art Guild for eight years.
Although she initially worked with true-to-life human figures, such as her Templar Knight, a full-size male mannequin sans head embellished in religious memorabilia, David says she now prefers to work in more manageable-sized “critters” and nautical images, which reflect her Florida lifestyle.
Other artists in the show include Fort Lauderdale-based photographer Jane Kreinberg and Tammy Seymour (The Turtle Lady), a watermedia artist who focuses on wildlife and conservation subjects.
While the challenges of breast cancer are real, Liesenfelt hopes viewers will leave the show with an uplifting message.
“The ‘Think Pink’ exhibit is a sanctuary where pain is transformed into beauty and where the silent struggles of many are given a voice,” says Liesenfelt. “It’s a cathartic and empowering experience for the artists to reaffirm the strength and solidarity of the breast cancer community.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: “Think Pink” Exhibition
WHEN: Noon to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Thursday. Through Friday, Oct. 18.
TICKETS: Free
WHERE: Broward Art Guild Gallery, 2052 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
INFORMATION: (954) 537-3370 and BrowardArtGuild.org
This story was produced by Broward Arts Journalism Alliance (BAJA), an independent journalism program of the Broward County Cultural Division. Visit ArtsCalendar.com for more stories about the arts in South Florida.
