THINK PINK

WASILLA — Breast cancer doesn’t have to be a road to nowhere for Valley women.

Brassieres to Nowhere is an exhibit that celebrates life, survival and inspiration this month at the Dorothy G. Page Museum. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the exhibit, which will become an annual event, features 23 bra-inspired works of art, said curator Bethany Buckingham.

“I’ve had many friends who have family members with breast cancer,” said Buckingham, sporting a splash of pink in her hair. On Fridays this month she dons a pink wig. “I have seen how this disease affects others, and this is a devastating disease.”

Most of the art was created by locals, and many by breast cancer survivors, like Suzanne Bach, a Valley art instructor who created a sculpture called “Training Bra,” which won first place for Juror’s Choice.

“I invited Taylor, who is an art student and works with metal, to join me as a collaborative artist,” Bach says in a statement explaining her piece. “I got to weld for the first time. … I am a breast cancer survivor and believe in promoting awareness of early detection as proof there is life after breast cancer.”

Bach had breast cancer surgery in 1992 and sculpted a large bra with bicycle wheels as the focal point. Attached to the wheels are small, pink training wheels.

One of the favorites has been “I Will Survive,” and interactive sculpture by Margaret Rogers Czarnezki, who created a disco ball out of small mirrors in the shape of a bra. The mirrored bra spins while Gloria Gaynor’s disco classic plays.

Czarnezki first thought of the concept a year ago, and “it took me that long to figure out how to make the concept a reality,” she says in her statement. “The end result is better than I expected.”

Creating the disco ball became a time for her to reflect on the impacts of breast cancer.

“I couldn’t help but think of the many people affected by breast cancer,” she says. “Working on this project became a daily meditation for me. I thought of how lucky I myself had been when the surgeon told me that the lump was benign. … Each tile that I laid became a wish that a cure would be found and everyone will survive.”

There’s a large bust of a bust covered in birdseed that forms a bra-inspired bird feeder — “Support your local wildlife,” Buckingham quipped — and a sculpture out of brass with doorknobs called “Brass-iere.” The pieces are either serious or whimsical, but all are tasteful, she said.

“This is a fun way to talk about a difficult subject,” Buckingham said. “They’re all tastefully done, there’s nothing crude here. I love the bird feeder.”

Of the entries, three are from men, which is a good reminder that breast cancer does affect men — about 1 percent of those diagnosed are male, Buckingham said.

One of the most poignant works was created by Kristi Muilenburg, a Wasilla police officer and breast cancer survivor. Her piece called “Who is Safe” features a blue police shield with a large service revolver and a pink breast cancer ribbon made from one of her bras.

“I am a breast cancer survivor,” her statement says. “Who is safe? No one is safe. Not the young, not the old, not the sick nor the healthy, not the good nor the bad, and not me.”

She explains how she was a young police officer and single mother when she was diagnosed.

“From all over the city, business owners, friends, city workers from all different departments and my brothers and sisters in blue all showed up to shave their heads for me,” she recalls. “What a great feeling, and that was my positive experience.”

Although the art has already been judged by a panel of jurors, visitors can still vote for the People’s Choice Award, which will be announced at the exhibit’s culminating event, the first Masquerade and Bra Auction, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at the museum. Most of the pieces in the exhibit will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to Pink Ribbon Days, a local breast cancer charity.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.