Elizabeth Andrade Arnold’s Relay For Life Art

May 11, 2022

A local artist has created a piece of artwork designed to honour and remember those touched by cancer for the Relay for Life of Bermuda event.

The poignant painting by Elizabeth Andrade Arnold is entitled “Angel of the First Degree” and will be on display at the North Field, National Sports Centre, on Friday and Saturday.

Depicted on the 30ins by 40ins canvas is an angel clothed in hands, illustrating that one in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime.

Relay for Life artwork Bermuda May 2022 (3)

Surrounding her are purple flowers, the colour representing Relay for Life, while the pink ribbons adorning her hair symbolise breast cancer awareness.

People will be encouraged to write names of survivors, caregivers and those who have lost the battle with cancer on the hands painted on the mixed media artwork.

“Organisers asked if I could create a space for people to remember their loved ones,” Arnold told Bernews.

“I’m a figurative artist, not really an abstract artist, so I came up with my own twist.

“I began working very intuitively at the beginning and, very naturally, this figure started to appear.

“I kept her very abstract but clothed her in hands so people could sign them.

Relay for Life artwork Bermuda May 2022 (1)

“I implemented the bows in the hair, the cancer bows, and the purple flowers, the stamp of Relay for Life. I tried to implement everything with my style. Thankfully, my style is quite busy!

“By the time everyone has signed and written the names of people who have been affected by the disease, it will be a wonderful holding space.”

Arnold, who spent more than 40 hours creating the piece, said her own painful experiences of the illness influenced the powerful image she created.

“As the years have gone by, more people in my own family have been affected by cancer,” said Arnold, a Texan who moved to Bermuda in 1993.

“I lost my grandfather to leukaemia; I have relatives fighting cancer and know two really strong women who have survived cancer.

Relay for Life artwork Bermuda May 2022 (2)

“When you sit and think about it all, I think most people have been quite affected by it in some way or another.”

Arnold said she hopes her artwork is auctioned off to raise funds for charity.

Relay for Life of Bermuda aims to raise awareness and funds to support access to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and support provided by Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre.

To sign-up, donate or find out the many ways you can participate in the event click here.

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  1. I still can’t thank you enough for creating this amazing piece of magic! XOXO