Art plays countless roles in peoples' lives. For the artist, it may help express emotions and experiences of difficult life issues. And for the viewer, art can help identify with, and to some extent understand, the artist's perspective.

One major life challenge that many people face is dealing with cancer, and for some individuals creating art can help them cope. As part of the festivities for the upcoming Dempsey Challenge, L/A Arts is partnering with The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing team to display art work created by cancer survivors at several locations throughout Lewiston Auburn in a multi-venue art exhibit entitled Cancer Surviv-Art.

From October 1 through October 4, 2009, works of art in a variety of mediums will be exhibited at:

L/A Arts Community Gallery # 221 Lisbon St., Lewiston
Art & Ale Window at Gritty McDuff's # 68 Main St., Auburn
Willy Beans Bistro & Café # 70 Lincoln St., Lewiston
Auburn Mall (just beyond Mall Office entrance) # 550 Center St., Auburn
"WHA Rotating Art Gallery" at CMMC# 60 High St., Lewiston

In addition, L/A Arts Community Gallery will hold an artist reception on Saturday, October 3 from 12 # 3 pm and both "WHA Rotating Art Gallery" at CMMC and L/A Arts Community Gallery will maintain the Cancer Surviv-Art Exhibit through the month of October 2009.

If you are a cancer survivor who has created artwork or part of a support network who has created artwork in relation to a cancer survivor and would like to be included in this exhibit, please contact Cheri Donahue at L/A Arts (207) 782-7228 or mail@laarts.org.

Visit L/A Arts website www.laarts.org or the Dempsey Challenge website to download guidelines and submission forms. Interested artists should contact L/A Arts no later than September 18, 2009 to assure inclusion in the exhibit.