The Bodice Project
Stereotypes about West Virginia are often frustrating to those of us who live here. Stereotypes about lower than average intelligence, increased impulsivity, laziness, lack of education, and poor oral health make us all cringe. Furthermore, if folks are so concerned about the poor dental health in West Virginia, perhaps they should donate some money to local dentists or the West Virginia University School of Dentistry to reach more people. West Virginia has a number of vibrant communities with cultural gems, including Huntington’s Huntington Museum of Art.
Tucked in the picturesque hills south of town and surrounded by beautiful (though steep in many places) walking and hiking trails, the Huntington Museum of Art punches above its weight. The museum brings artistic traditions spanning time and cultures to this pocket of Appalachia. Permanent exhibitions include antique firearms, Middle Eastern artifacts, and a small conservatory punctuated by a breathtaking Dale Chihuly glass sculpture.
Admission to the museum is free for all, though memberships are for sale for those who want to have a greater involvement in and express gratitude for this resource, helping ensure admission remains free and the museum accessible to those of all socioeconomic means.
The Huntington Museum of Art usually has two or three temporary exhibits to punctuate their permanent collection. Currently, these temporary exhibitions include the Bodice Project. The Bodice Project is a traveling sculpture exhibition that asks breast cancer survives to answer the question, “who am I now?”
On one hand, I am glad that breast cancer is something so many people are aware of in the mainstream. It is a devastating condition. However, I also worry that many of the campaigns that companies and aggressive non-profits run, effectively “pink washing” everything they touch, might diminish the stories of those living with breast cancer. The Bodice Project is none of this. The Bodice Project is survivors expressing their experience, their hopes, and their realities on their own terms.
The Bodice Project remains at the Huntington Museum of Art until July 25, 2021. Many of the bodices included in the exhibit are included on the Bodice Project’s main website, here. The project has already made stops in Winchester, Virginia, Frederick, Maryland, and Morgantown, West Virginia. If it visits your town, I recommend a visit to immerse yourself in what breast cancer really means to those living with the condition. Pink optional.
