Cancer is an ugly disease, but that hasn't kept two local artists from creating spirited holiday cards for this year's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Holiday Greetings card collection.
Peabody resident Gina Hagen and Sally Lee of Danvers were two of several artists who submitted designs to Dana-Farber. Twelve designs and greetings are showcased in this year's festive collection, including paintings and photographs of holiday-themed scenes in Massachusetts. Hagen and Lee are among award-winning illustrators, up-and-coming artists, and Dana-Farber patients all creating art to find a cure.
Proceeds from the cards are donated to The Jimmy Fund to support adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber, which provides treatment to adults and children with cancer while developing cures through cutting-edge research.
Lee, an artist and administrative assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is an award-winning children's book illustrator and writer. Her artistic talent started at a young age.
"Rumor has it that I was drawing with my mother's lipstick in the crib," said Lee, 49.
She's always searching for contests, calls-for-artists and submissions. She was encouraged by her friend's design in last year's holiday card collection and quickly followed suit with her own.
Her colorful design, titled "Santa's Glee," portrays a jolly Santa Claus carrying a gift in the snow, accompanied by a lively cat.
"It is a good way to show your work and help people at the same time," she said.
Her design helps people like her father, who is battling prostate cancer. He was diagnosed 20 years ago and has dealt with treatment well. Her mother wasn't as fortunate.
Five years ago, after nearly 20 years of remission from breast cancer, Lee's mother was diagnosed with a multiforme brain tumor. She died eight months later.
Cancer also claimed the lives of Hagen's grandfather and father-in-law and seems to appear in different areas of her life.
"I had an open house at my home gallery a couple of years ago," said Hagen, owner of Hagen Gallery, where she designs jewelry with her mother. "I looked around the room and realized that more than half of the people there were cancer survivors," adding that one of her best friends had been treated at Dana-Farber.
"When I learned about this project, I felt compelled to create something as special as I could," said Hagen, a professional watercolor artist.
Hagen, 42, exhibits and sells her work throughout the state and has won awards for her pieces. Her most recent painting, "Fenway Fantasy in the Snow," is featured in the Dana-Farber collection. The watercolor painting won first place in the Peabody Art Association's recent juried exhibit.
Hagen's design is of two children decorating snowmen with Boston Red Sox insignias, in front of a snow-covered Fenway Park.
"It is very exciting and an honor to be included in the collection," Hagen said.
"It feels great!" Lee added. "When they told me it was accepted, I was so excited. ... It is a great honor."
Though the colorful strokes of these seasoned artists suggest a joyful time of year, Lee and Hagen's designs have a deeper meaning.
"My biggest hope is that the money from my art donation would help ease the suffering of cancer patients and help find cures," Hagen said.
"Life is delicate at best, and we need to enjoy every day because it may all be gone tomorrow," Lee said.
Staff writer Muriel C. Hoffacker can be reached at 978-338-2687 or by email at mhoffacker@salemnews.com.
Want to support cancer research?
Purchase or view cards in Dana-Farber's Holiday Greetings collection by visiting www.jimmyfund.org/gif/holiday/default.html.
For a list of participating retailers, visit www.jimmyfund.org/gif/holiday/participating-retailers.html.
Questions? Call 617-582-7724 or email Holiday_Orders@dfci.harvard.edu.
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