Down the Rabbit Hole: A Solo Exhibition by Nina Luna

My Journey

This Story is how breast cancer changed my life.

I am a two time breast cancer survivor I was diagnosed Oct 2011 and have been in remission since Feb. 2014

I was released out on my own Feb 24th 2014. I know that seems funny to say but for 2 and half years I was cared for by wonderful Doctors, Nurses and a many Friends who cared and supported me through this horrific Journey. I was shown more Love and Admiration that gave me the power to fight for my life.

I really don’t remember much of it; I guess that’s a blessing. The only way I can describe it is going through a worm hole and shot out the other side and wondering what the heck happened.

So, here I am in remission and wondering now what. WHAT DO I DO NOW? The person that I was is gone never to return. Thus began my flight into my new life. I was thrown back into a “normal” reality. Well as normal as can be. I had to retrain my brain from fight to flight. My fight was over as quickly as quickly as it came and the initial shock of it all hadn’t hit yet. I’m still not sure it has but now I had to learn to fly.

Painting, who knew!

I first started painting as an art form in Oct 2013. I had never painted anything of meaning before this, Although I draw well just didn't apply to painting. Didn’t even know I had it in me. (My first exhibit was in Nov. 2013) and hasn’t stopped. I didn’t expect it to be as well received as it is.

I chose painting the upper half of the female torso as a healing process from the loss of both breasts and then graduated to a full torso. I’d really never looked at the female body as beautiful. Painting them helps me embrace who I am as a woman and being if not more beautiful now, as I was with breasts.

Each piece tells a story of where I was when going through cancer, where I have gone, to where I am. My first piece (The Garden of Eden) my rebirth begins my reflection on my Journey and now reflects how I have grown as a Woman, Survivor and an Artist.