Art gallery challenges group to put on "thinking cups"

Story I did for the Laurens County Advertiser on the local Artist Co-Op gallery called the Artist's Coop who are doing an interesting fundraiser to raise money for a breast cancer support group in Laurens

Fay Edge, director of the Artist’s Coop’s fundraiser “Artsy Bras: Curves for the Cure” challenged the members of the Rainbow Connection support group to put their “thinking cups on,” at a reception held on July 6, at the Laurens County Hospital Meditation Garden.

“Our [the Artist’s Coop] challenge to you,” Edge said, “is to each design a bra for the auction.”

The unique fundraiser will feature handmade “art bras” fashioned by Laurens County residents for a silent auction that will go from Sept. 22 through Oct. 8 at the Artist’s Coop.



The Artist’s Coop began searching for a non-profit organization with which to split the profits of the fundraiser, and chose the Rainbow Connection, a breast cancer support group in Laurens County.

The group began almost 15 years ago and has continued to provide support and services to Laurens County citizens suffering from cancer, says Rainbow Connection’s facilitator, Pam Roper.

“We have women in all different stages,” Roper said. “Everyone who visits keeps coming because of the wonderful ladies [in the group] who have been through what they’re going through.”

During Monday’s reception, Edge introduced the title of the Coop’s fundraiser, “Curves for the Cure,” to the members of the group seated around the Meditation Garden patio.

“Did you say, ‘Curves for humor’?” jokingly asked Barbara Zegen, a survivor of breast cancer and longtime member of the Rainbow Connection.

According to Roper the entire group is always ready for a laugh.

“We have a lot of humor in the group, but we do get serious.” Roper said. “We cry together and we laugh together.”

The group of cancer patients and survivors meet at the hospital every first Monday to listen to a speaker, receive medical tips, or even watch a fun presentation of over-the-top feminine mastectomy lingerie.

“Whatever the topic,” said Margaret Miller a member of the group since 2002, “we go away from each meeting feeling spiritually renewed and knowing that we relate to each other in a way that only survivors of this frightening disease can.”

Edge said that the impact that the Rainbow Connection has had on the community is the reason the Artist’s Coop chose the group for the fundraiser.

“We can help each other, while helping women and their families,” Edge said.

The idea for the auction began when Edge heard about the South Carolina Quilter’s Guild’s fundraiser, “Artful Bra Exhibit.” Originally Edge hoped to arrange for the Guild’s exhibit to be shown in Laurens, but the waiting list was completely filled.

“I just decided we’d do our own project,” Edge said.

Edge hopes that decorated bras and lingerie will be filling up the Artist’s Coop by Thursday, Sept. 17 when the first submission date arrives.



Murmurs of “bunches of coconuts” and “hooters” were already circulating around the table from women seated at the reception Monday as they began to brainstorm about ideas for their submissions.

Roper hopes that the partnership with the Artist’s Coop will be a success.

“We want people to know that the money people will be spending will go to help people struggling with cancer, and (for) their families.”



Many of the members of the support group, such as Zegen, have come to consider the small group an extended family that they could not have lived without.

“We are all sisters,” Zegan said, “not by tragedy, but by our hearts.”

For more information on the “Artsy Bras: Curves for the Cure” fundraiser contact the Artist’s Coop at (864) 984- 9359.