 |
Artist’s
Statement
When
cancer touches the lives of our families and friends, we no
longer have the luxury of standing by. I have witnessed my
mother falling victim to breast cancer in 2005 and many individuals
around me are being affected by this disease. The search to
find a Cure concerns us all and there is a need to become
involved and to be informed! Raising funds for Breast Cancer
Research through art seemed like a perfect starting point
for me.
I have always viewed art and life as joined entities. Art
offers its own unique way of communicating through visual
statements and experiences. Like a life-affirming breath,
the arts provide a voice to share our stories and dreams.
Change takes place because we get involved and educated. My
vision for the CHEST OF HOPE
project is to combine the language of art with the bountiful
energy of the human spirit and I am looking forward to this
ongoing journey of HOPE.
Christa Gampp, Toronto, Canada
About Chest of Hope
The CHEST
OF HOPE
torso art project was brought to life by Toronto artist Christa
Gampp in October 2006 to support the Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation and to raise public
awareness on Breast Health Issues.
Using her
artistic talents as a means to support the search for a Cure,
the artist set out to create torso casts of volunteer models.
These caring women and men are not professional models, but
people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. To honour each volunteer
in a very special way, the design for each torso artwork is
created to reflect the uniqueness and individuality of the
model.
“Breast cancer can
affect us all regardless of age, nationality, or profession.
For this reason, I choose to create torso casts of people
from all walks of life. The torso volunteers are mothers,
daughters, teachers, artists, therapists, breast cancer survivors
… I have also cast a few male volunteers!”
Purchase
or Rent a Torso Sculpture
|
We encourage the business community and all art lovers
to purchase or rent these unique torso sculptures.
The artworks will make a great addition to your home
or office décor with the added benefit of supporting
a very worthy cause! Volunteers may also choose to
purchase their own torso sculpture and we welcome
commissions for pregnant belly casts! Please visit
the Torso page for additional information:
|
|
|
 |
|
On
Television
Christa
Gampp presented the CHEST
OF HOPE torsos on Breakfast Television
with Host Dina Pugliese in October 2007 and on Rogers
Television with Host Veronica
Chail in May 2007. Ms. Chail had graciously
volunteered for a torso cast and her sculpture was revealed
to the public during the show.
|
The
Pink Scarf
The
CHEST OF HOPE
project also includes a collaborative PINK
SCARF KNITTING PROJECT that involves
the participation of knitters from several countries.
Each volunteer is adding a pink section of yarn
to this growing Symbol of Hope. The continuous
journey of the scarf offers support and encouragement
to anyone who has been touched by breast cancer
The
PINK SCARF
has just returned from a long journey to Germany,
where knitters from the artist’s home town
and surrounding areas have participated. We’d
like to offer a special THANK YOU
to the Town of Oberhausen-Rheinhausen for covering
the shipping costs to bring the scarf back to
Canada.
The
story of the PINK SCARF has been featured in the
German newspaper Badische
Neueste Nachrichten (December
2007). |
|
|
 |
The
2007 Chest of Hope Exhibition
Twenty-two
torso sculptures were on display at the historic Gladstone
Hotel in Toronto, Canada, in October 2007. The exhibition
and silent auction raised funds in support of the Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation. It featured
works by Christa Gampp and guest artists Rachael Abah-Roth,
Toronto * Françoise Mallecourt Cockburn, Toronto
* Marina Dempster, Toronto * Tasse Geldart, Toronto
* Nepher Lewis, Toronto * Diane Lingenfelter, Toronto
* Tanya MacFarlane, Toronto * Rob Matejka, Toronto *
Suzanne Myers, Owen Sound * Andrea Piller, Toronto *
Julia White, Owen Sound.” |
|
|
|
