2015 Creative Cups

Jane Gennaro

Deadline

I’m eating an apple when suddenly it’s hard to swallow. “We’ve come to a phase in our lives where we’re just sick of losing our friends.” The voice on the radio belongs to Joy Simha, a board member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. “We are looking into the eyes of our children and saying, ‘No more! No more! We need a deadline.’“ I put down my paring knife and close my eyes.

The story is about breast cancer patients seeking more control over research. “We decided we could no longer afford to have the scientists set the agenda, and that we were going to decide what questions need to be answered,” adds NBCC president Fran Visco, describing the impetus for The Artemis Project, whose mission is to prevent the disease and figure out how to prevent metastasis. A deadline has been set for January 2020.

In 1952, Dr. Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine. Becton, Dickinson and Company developed the first mass-produced disposable syringe and needle for the large scale administration of the Salk vaccine. Why not a cancer vaccine?

Medical and organic talismans snake through this offering to the huntress Artemis—goddess protector of women. The sculpture is built on my Olympian hope an apple will fall from the tree, creating a stroke of brilliant scientific insight and the declared target will be met.

Media: Deer antlers and ribs, medical tubing, vintage glass syringe and needle, squirrel tail, mink fur, fabric, apple seeds, paper, paint.