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"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, he turned into a butterfly".
These words were the inspiration for Michelle Blackburn, breast cancer survivor, to embrace her scars
and transform them into the images you see here.
The Butterfly Story is looking to provide breast cancer survivors the opportunity to express their experience artistically through body art by Chantal Hughes and photography by Izabela Pioro.
We hope that breast cancer survivors will find this experience to be transformative, as well those who have the opportunity to see the finished product through a gallery display"
I've had the privaledge of working with Michael, artist Chantal Hughes and a number of hair stylists in this amazing project, which provides breast cancer survivors an oportunity to come to terms with, move forward, and recover from the condition, through body art and photography.
The process allows the participants to visually celebrate the people, places and things that helped them through their recovery process. be those real or imaginary!
Chantal interprets their story, while I capture their transformation through video and photography. I then take their image, and through the magic of my photoshop skills, create a backdrop, and final image that enhances and elevates their story! Every final image is unique!
This project involvment is free to the participant, who is chosen through a series or interviews. We have a waiting list of prospective participants.
The resulting images have been immortalized in several annual calendars, and two hard cover books to date. The sales of which have raised over $50,000 towards the rehabilitation of breast cancer servivors right here in Thunder Bay! Though there's much funding for research and treatment, once a patient leaves the care of the hospital, there are very few funded services available to help them rejoin their lives. Funding for prosthetics, wigs, clothing, psychological/emotional support and education is very limited! Thats where we come in!
We're SO proud of these achievments, and hope, post COVID, we can restart the poject soon.
For more information please go to our Facebook Page to connect with the team and see more about this unique project!
Our books are available for purchase to support local survivors return to their lives post breast cancer treatment.

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she turned into a butterfly".
"These words were the inspiration for Michelle Blackburn, breast cancer survivor, to embrace her scars and transform them into the images you see here.

The Butterfly Story is looking to provide breast cancer survivors the opportunity to express their experience artistically through body art by Chantal Hughes and photography by Izabela Pioro.

We hope that breast cancer survivors will find this experience to be transformative, as well those who have the opportunity to see the finished product through a gallery display"

I've had the privaledge of working with Michael, artist Chantal Hughes and a number of hair stylists in this amazing project, which provides breast cancer survivors an oportunity to come to terms with, move forward, and recover from the condition, through body art and photography.
The process allows the participants to visually celebrate the people, places and things that helped them through their recovery process. be those real or imaginary!
Chantal interprets their story, while I capture their transformation through video and photography. I then take their image, and through the magic of my photoshop skills, create a backdrop, and final image that enhances and elevates their story! Every final image is unique!
This project involvment is free to the participant, who is chosen through a series or interviews. We have a waiting list of prospective participants.

The resulting images have been immortalized in several annual calendars, and two hard cover books to date. The sales of which have raised over
$50,000
towards the rehabilitation of breast cancer servivors right here in Thunder Bay! Though there's much funding for research and treatment, once a patient leaves the care of the hospital, there are very few funded services available to help them rejoin their lives. Funding for prosthetics, wigs, clothing, psychological/emotional support and education is very limited! Thats where we come in!
We're SO proud of these achievments, and hope, post COVID, we can restart the poject soon.
For more information please go to our Facebook Page to connect with the team and see more about this unique project!
Our books are available for purchase to support local survivors return to their lives post breast cancer treatment.