Reuben Cheatem

I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at the age of 42, with no warning, aside from a few weeks of chronic and enduring abdominal pain and digestive difficulties that indicated that something was wrong. I have been active and have had a healthy diet for most of my adult life, so I was completely caught off guard. Cancer can come for anyone when they least expect it. Following six months of successful chemotherapy, I began creating a collection of artwork that details my journey through treatment with references to dealing with side effects, emotional and physical ups and downs, and the elation of feeling renewed. Battling past cancer definitely had a profound effect on my outlook and how I create art. I began to understand the value of sharing without fear of vulnerability. I have even taken on a "you only live once" attitude, encouraging myself to be more daring and experimental, trying new techniques and mediums.

When I was in chemo, almost the only beverage I could drink was water with a squeeze of lime. I still can't explain why plain water, be it tap or bottled, was so upsetting to my stomach. Moreover, it had to be warm, because of the severe cold sensitivity in my mouth and hands that I experienced from the oxaliplatin infusions. On the days when my nausea was at its worst, even breaking through three or four concurrent medications, my go-to food to just have something in my belly was green grapes. My painting Clutch not only depicts these necessities for my cancer treatment, but also monochromatically uses the color green, which represents healing, renewal, growth, and wellbeing.


reubencheatem.com