Matthew Starring
performed Beast
on the Emerson
College campus in
April 2009. He plans
to showcase it in
Providence, R.I., this
summer and in
Boston this fall.
CR | Page No. 64 | Summer 2009
Two years of my life have been spent in the infernal land that lies at the heart
of cancer treatment. Despite the life-threatening nature of acute lymphoblastic
leukemia and the negativity that accompanies a cancer diagnosis, I have been
able to cope with the events and process my emotions through art. It has
helped me far better than any support group I could dream up.
Pictured above are images from an installation and performance I wrote
titled Beast, which charts my journey through cancer diagnosis, treatment,
remission, relapse and recovery.
Suspended quilts made from greeting cards I gathered during hospital
stays create the backdrop. During the performance, I tell my story through
monologues as myself and as other characters in my life. With the acoustic
guitar and piano, I play and sing original music that took shape over the
course of my treatment.
The production has allowed me to confront my demons up close. Often, in
the midst of dealing with the reality of cancer, it can seem nearly impossible
to cope with the experience emotionally. Preparing and exhibiting this
work has allowed me to immerse myself in the events since my diagnosis in
January 2007 and face them head-on. —Matthew Starring
BEAST
BONNIE BRIANT
