Fascinating Women who Defiy Death, Disease and Depression

sha¯na is an artist living & working in a suburb of NYC. She came to photography back in 2003, two years after a cancer diagnosis. It all started from her bed when a friend loaned her a camera. Some time after going through the lengthy acute phase of her illness - surgery, treatment & all the accompanying emotional turmoil, creative urges started to re-emerge. With limited physical endurance she was uncertain just what to do. Friends encouraged her to explore her artistic inclination through photography, a medium she had not previously tried. This excited her but greatly intimidated her as well. Around the same time sha¯na met Maya & Talia, 11 and 8 years old respectively. An immediate bond ensued and they would soon become her muses. The work took place primarily in and around her home and immediate neighborhood. It soon became apparent that photography was to become her life’s endeavor as her connection to the medium quickly deepened. One can say that she used this new opportunity as a way to re-shape her world. Her intention was to connect and make good pictures. She didn’t theorize about them – that came much later. As sha¯na continues to manage chronic health challenges they impact her work in practical ways. These constraints inform much of her art as themes of isolation and belonging permeate her work. sha¯na’s work has been in 5 group exhibitions, including the juried show; Long Island Biennial at The Heckscher Museum of Art. In addition, during the exhibition she was one of the artists chosen to speak at Viewpoints Meet the Artist. Currently, her work is in 2 private collections.