Bra art competition raises breast cancer awareness

When it comes to breast cancer, anything can spread awareness, even a pitchfork or a mound of spray insulation.

On Friday, a menagerie of mundane items became works of “bra art” for the first Designer Cup Challenge Bra Art Competition at Robinwood Medical Center in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Holly Luther, community health educator, said the Washington County Cancer Coalition sponsored the event, which featured 17 works of bra art, plus pieces by a local metal artist.

Bra art shows have been supporting cancer awareness nationwide and Luther said she wanted to give it a try in Washington County this year.

Both groups and individuals could submit a bra for the event, which also was a competition.

Seven judges evaluated the art, awarding first- through third-place winners for group and individual entries.

Ad Fulton, who lost his first wife, Barbara, to breast cancer, was one of the judges.

While Fulton said he wasn’t the most qualified judge, he acknowledged the importance of events such as the bra art competition.

“It’s all (so) someday, we can be rid of this terrible disease,” he said.

Verda Henry of Mercersburg, Pa., won first place in the individual category with her Cupcake Bra.

Henry, a mammographer at Robinwood, said there were specific guidelines for turning the bra into a work of art, including the size and material.

Inspired by her niece’s bakery website, Henry said she used spray insulation, straight pins and cupcake papers to turn her bra into cupcakes.

“On the home page of my niece’s website, it said, ‘Life’s uncertain. Eat dessert first,’” she said. Those are words to live by, she said.

Millions have been touched by breast cancer, including metal artist Scott Cawood of Antietam, who makes bra sculptures from scrap metal.

Connected to the disease through his mother, Dorothy Cawood, who is a breast cancer survivor, Cawood brought some of the bras he crafted using items such as nails, machine shims, bicycle chains, pitchforks and metal shelving to the event.

Looking at all of the bras in the room, each a thing of unique beauty, was an emotional experience, Luther said.

Especially looking at the bra made by the teenagers of Girls Inc., she said.

“To me, to know our next generation is intent on spreading the prevention message is inspirational,” she said.

In addition to the display of bra art, numerous community organizations set up tables with literature on breast cancer services, she said.

A pink afghan made by a patient at the John R. Marsh Cancer Center also was raffled to raise money.