Winged Victory: Altered Images : Transcending Breast Cancer [Paperback]

Art Myers (Author), Maria Marrocchino (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1996

This new book of photographs of semi-nude women and their partners presents a remarkable portrait of breast cancer survivors, of which there are 1.6 million in the US. These photographic subjects are portrayed not as victims but as women of elegance, strength and sensuousness who have transcended their disease and resultant surgery. The women in the book range in age from their twenties to over eighty-three years. Accompanied by original poetry by Maria Marrocchino and subject written vignettes, these women redefine their self-image: breast missing, altered and reconstructed. As Dr. David Spiegel, the nationally recognized specialist in the therapy of women facing life-threatening illness notes in the foreword, "...they present their bodies and themselves with humor, sadness, vulnerability, honesty. They challenge us to look beyond what is missing, beneath the scar. They evoke admiration: of their beauty and their courage. They do not hide their loss, they transcend it."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very moving and important work." -- Feminist Bookstore News

"Real stories...vivid portraits." -- Glamour Magazine

"The result is an inspiring portrayal of courage, confidence, and joy, inviting the reader to 'see this radiant body…on this perfect woman.' This is a book to share and it should be prominently displayed in all health care facilities that deal with breast cancer." -- Steve Brock, Book Reviews on the Internet

"This book of photographs celebrates the strength and beauty of women who have survived beast cancer. Beautifully poignant poetry and vignettes... The powerful effect of this book is exhilarating. The book is necessary and encouraging for cancer survivors, their loved ones and others who challenge themselves in life." -- Lisa Phelps, Small Press Magazine

From the Author

I am still haunted by the memory of the phone call from my mother telling me in a trembling voice that my sister Joanne, still in her thirties, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Following a prolonged heroic battle to survive she was to eventually die from that disease. Two decades later I anxiously faced a surgeon in an antiseptic hospital waiting room as he uttered the dreaded words, "Your wife has breast cancer."

In my career as a physician I have many times had the sobering responsibility of delivering the news of a cancer diagnosis to patients and their loved ones. However, I was not prepared for the overwhelming effect that breast cancer in two close family members would have on my life. I began to see the disease in a new light. I learned that anxiety about survival, initially the most important worry, can give way later to a new unease both in the survivor and her partner. The women may begin to cover her nakedness fearing a spouse's averted glance, or turn away from the reflection in a mirror that unremittingly reminds her of fears of diminished femininity. A partner withdraws a hand to avoid touching a scar where once was a graceful curve. Lovers draw apart, an absent breast now a barrier to their intimacy. A fianc quietly turns his back and walks out of a cancer survivor's life. These fears about body image, femininity and sexuality are understandable in a society that is bombarded by media messages of centerfolds, push-up bras and silicone implants-messages that erroneously imply that a perfect breast is the requisite icon of the feminine essence.

With the support of my wife, Stephanie, now a 12 year survivor and one of the subjects in the book, I undertook this photographic project hoping to show that a woman's fundamental nature is not dependent on anything external; the loss of part or all of her breast is not a threat to her being.

The short narratives in the book, written by the women and their partners, are included as in important part of the message. With no substantive editing they come right from the subjects' hearts, printed as written. The beautiful poems, written especially for the book, were created by Maria Marrocchino, a first-time published poetess.

In my other career, that of fine art photographer, I have been photographing women for a decade and a half, but it wasn't until I started this project that I began to truly understand the many elements that make a woman's image complete. Now it is my hope that these pictures, poems and personal vignettes will reveal the persistence of a woman's beauty, strength and femaleness in all of its complexity, even after the transforming experience of breast cancer.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 56 pages
• Publisher: Photographic Gallery of Fine Art Books; 1st edition (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889169005
• ISBN-13: 978-1889169002
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,106,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Art Myers is a physician as well as a fine art photographer. He is best known for his photographic series of women with breast cancer and the resultant book
Winged Victory: Altered Images; Transcending Breast Cancer, which earned gold Nautilus and Living Now Book Awards. Myers' additional work documenting socially relevant issues includes photographic series of women with HIV and women living in an urban rescue mission, among others. He has been awarded the prestigious Nyumbani humanitarian medal for photographic work he did for the same-named African orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS. Myers' photographs have been exhibited in museums and galleries in the United States and a number of other countries and can be viewed at www.artmyers.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courage Personified, December 6, 1999

By 

29GRITS (29 Palms, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Winged Victory: Altered Images : Transcending Breast Cancer (Paperback)

I first viewed this book as I waited for a retake on a mammogram - a little apprehensive, and very much reminded of my sister, who just marked one year in her fight with breast cancer. I was completely taken unaware by the beauty and courage I witnessed through Art Myers' photography, but was as deeply touched by the bravery of these women of all ages who bared not only their bodies, but their souls. Many of the photographs become portraits not just of an individual, but of their support system, as well. Incorporating husbands (including one of 50+ years), children, and significant others brought tears to my eyes. The text and captions are equally moving, extremely intimate, yet not offensive. By the time I finished, I felt renewed inner peace and strength for what lay ahead for me. I plan to use this as a gift, because I saw my sister on every page - brave, beautiful, and surviving.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Winged Victory: Confronting and raw but disappointing, March 9, 2007

By 

julie fearns pheasant "art survivor" (Perth, Western Australian) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winged Victory: Altered Images : Transcending Breast Cancer (Paperback)

I bought this book as I am an artist who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and am going to produce images that introduce my viewer to my breast cancer journey in a positive, intimate but honest way. I thought the book might assist me in mentally prepare for creating work as the front cover and initial review portrayed imagery that was artistic and provoking. Whilst I absolutely applaud the front cover and find the book haunting, the women photographed in it brave, beautiful and positive, the overall content of the book was a bit disappointing. I don't know if it was the actual printing of the book that caused it, however some of the photos were very dark tonally and some of the impact and composition was lost. I would have liked to have seen more works similar to the front cover within the book. The photos of the women were good, but I would have liked to have seen more. Art Myers obviously has skill, empathy and the ability to communicate with the women he worked with but I felt disappointed. The contributions from the survivors was honest, amusing and well done. I have since bought two other books Turning Heads and Art.Rage.Us and found them more useful. For what this book cost me as an international buyer I was disapponted.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winged Victory: Altered Images: Transcending Breast Cancer, August 20, 2004

By 

J. H. Schreiber "furbrain" (San Diego) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winged Victory: Altered Images : Transcending Breast Cancer (Paperback)

This is a fabulous photo book celebrating women's bodies after mastectomy. The pictures are very well done with great artistic effects.

I would recommend this for anyone going through this procedure and any medical facility providing mammograms, mastectomy and breast cancer treatment.