Art Competition To Benefit Elmhurst Hospital Cancer Patients
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By Michael Perlman | mperlman@queensledger.com
“Arts For Life,” a humanitarian art contest and fundraiser is uniting diverse artists from Queens and beyond with a mission of bringing hope for cancer patients. On April 30 at 5:30 PM, this columnist, who is also an event producer, artist, and historian, along with Leah Dulce Salmorin, the Paddle For The Cure charity founder and event coordinator will co-host a Zoom & Facebook Live art show, live from the landmarked Ridgewood Savings Bank at 107-55 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills. This event was made possible by branch manager Nancy Adzemovic and her colleagues who fulfill their mission to “Multiply The Good.”
Arts For Life will feature numerous artists who will compete in the categories of painting, photography, and drawing after submitting their bio and explaining their motivation for enrolling via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pfc-nyc-arts-for-life-with-ridgewood-bank-tickets-148620274241. To qualify, a work of art needs to be inspired by the widespread theme of hope and may include water sports, breast cancer awareness, and seeing the light during the pandemic.
Arts For Life flyer
The humanitarian initiative reinforces the message that art offers healing powers, and it is always timely to commit good deeds by lending a helping hand to people in need. The event is also a creative way to boost the arts scene in Queens and in general. Most of all, this event will enable cancer patients and their families to see the light during the most challenging times and raise much-needed funds.
Winners announced in each category will win $100, donated by Ridgewood Savings Bank. Artists who enrolled paid $20, which will help Elmhurst Hospital Center’s Hope Pavilion Cancer Clinic and Paddle For The Cure fulfill their mission, while winning artists will donate their artwork to be displayed at the Hope Pavilion Clinic. Entries will be judged by Mervin David, an artist and nurse practitioner with Elmhurst Hospital, and technical assistance will be provided by research scholar Michael M. Wechsler, Esq.
Leah Salmorin & Michael Perlman at Ridgewood Savings Bank
Linda & Sol Perlman, Leah Salmorin, Michael Perlman
Since November 2019, this columnist has an exhibit, “Reflections of Historic Forest Hills” at Jade Eatery in the Forest Hills Gardens, which features original photography and restored vintage images. The art show became an inspiration for producing humanitarian art contests and fundraisers and continuing to embrace the commendable missions of Paddle For The Cure, Elmhurst Hospital, and Ridgewood Savings Bank, while supporting fellow artists. Each artist who enrolled is a true humanitarian, where every work of art bears the capacity to touch the heart of its audience and tell a story, which may also be a reflection of the artist’s personal story.
In a past interview with this column, branch manager Nancy Adzemovic said, “Ridgewood Savings Bank has always been a bank that prides itself on its community. I want to go out into the community and search for more partnerships. We give donations to local non-profits, volunteer, and educate our children.” Ridgewood Savings Bank was chartered in 1921 and opened a Forest Hills branch in 1940 to serve a growing community. Over the years, the bank has funded history murals, sponsored the 112th Precinct’s Night Out Against Crime, organized blood drives, volunteered in soup kitchens, compiled food collections, and coordinated a carnival-themed family fun festival and kids day, as well as employee-based yard sales which helped renovate a Queens classroom.
Leah Salmorin with her driving force, water
Local resident Leah Salmorin is a breast cancer survivor whose story offers a beacon of faith, hope, and perseverance. She founded Paddle For The Cure (PFC), a non-profit which supports fellow survivors through recreational opportunities including dragon boat paddling and bowling fundraisers. An aim is to foster a healthy lifestyle and offer emotional support and team spirit. PFC is built on the concept, “water is life,” since it is a vehicle for raising awareness of breast cancer and the key for healing.
“Arts For Life is very personal and meaningful since my family has a pool of cancer and diabetes, and as a breast survivor, I believe that all mediums related to the arts are therapeutic,” said Salmorin. “It is a process and part of healing, analogous to water symbolizing a renewal of one’s soul.” She almost passed away five times after facing a diabetic coma, two car accidents, breast cancer, and Covid-19), but to her, “surviving is a priceless gift.”
1 Paddle For The Cure Founder Leah Salmorin & the power of pink
“I vowed to give where I can, to help others affected, and I feel that I cannot waste the rest of my life without making an impact on this planet,” said Salmorin. To maintain a healthy body and state of mind, she pursues swimming, biking, yoga, acupuncture, writing, public speaking, diverse workshops, and church services as a lector at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Joan of Arc. Her story, “Humility & Faith” encompasses her two lessons as a survivor and has been featured in “Faces of Inspiration,” a book which places a spotlight on breast cancer stories.
She said, “Giving me the gift of life is also my way of giving back to Elmhurst Hospital, my home away from home where I was treated. I will never forget the first time I stepped into the doors and the entire staff welcomed me with beautiful smiles, which comforted me during my journey. With gratitude, I thank those that are still at the clinic, who wrapped me around with a blanket of love.”
She called herself “the voice of the survivors” and explained that she will continue to take care of them in her capacity with her PFC family, the PFC way. She said, “I believe that I will be taken care of along with all the women who come to the Hope Pavilion Cancer Clinic for screening and treatment. I also believe that there are many artists who need to be recognized, and with the event we coordinated, it brings every individual together as one for a great cause. Art is the key to healing that can touch one heart to another.”
