Register Here for Gallery 1832: Marks Rare Disease Month in Association with Art for Eyes.
This February all eyes will be on Gallery 1832!
In children with the heritable genetic form of retinoblastoma there is a mutation on chromosome 13, called the Rb1 gene. The genetic codes found in chromosomes control the way in which cells grow and develop within the body. If a portion of the code is missing or altered (mutation), a cancer may develop. Mutations or changes in the retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) gene is the most important risk factor for retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma accounts for about 2% of all cancers that occur in children 0 to 14 years of age. It most often affects children younger than 5. Mutations in the RB1 gene are responsible for most cases of retinoblastoma. RB1 is a tumor suppressor gene, which means that it normally regulates cell growth and stops cells from dividing too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way. The RB1 gene is the first tumor suppressor gene identified whose mutational inactivation is the cause of a human cancer, the pediatric cancer retinoblastoma.
This exhibit will showcase work that will have at least one eye on it. To represent that to see a better world it starts with our children, especially those who lose their sight. Battling childhood cancer and then a lifelong vision impairment is a traumatic disability that resilient survivors and their families face hardships regularly. These children not only deserve the medical equipment to prevent disfigurement and pain, but also to truly be accepted see themselves in the arts. Each art piece will help provide awareness to retinoblastoma and provide financial aid for kids' prosthetic eyes.
Retinoblastoma is a rare childhood eye cancer. The survival rate outside the US is only 20%. There is an incredible lack of education about this deadly disease that affects about 400 children each year. Many children diagnosed with Retinoblastoma will lose one or both eyes to cancer. Living with a lifelong vision impairment and a life with prosthetic eyes. Prosthetic eyes are not always covered by insurance. So we’ve combined the medical, the science, and the arts all together to fight this disease.
Founder Meg Landry shares - Art for Eyes began in the height of the Covid pandemic. Just 6 months after the loss of her dad, her daughter Lyla was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, and as a result lost her right eye to cancer. She was only 18 months old. One of the ways to detect Retinoblastoma is a yellow glow from a photo using flash photography. Meg remembers seeing a poster when she was pregnant in Florida of a child with two differing eye colors. Her doctor at the time reassured her that it was very rare and not to be concerned.
That’s just one of the reasons Art for Eyes believes art can and will save an eye or a life.
Prosthetic eyes cost anywhere between $2700-$8000. Some children need one or both eyes removed in order to stop the spread of the disease. Prosthetic eyes are not always covered by insurance. They’re a very realistic freehand custom paint job about the size of a quarter. A financial burden of cancer on top of living with a vision impairment shouldn’t be a problem for families to worry about in their child’s recovery. Art For Eyes provides financial aid for kids' prosthetic eyes and raises awareness about retinoblastoma through inclusive art programs and creative events.
Rare Disease Awareness month is an opportunity to get eyes on this rare childhood cancer and let compassionate creativity help kids like her live a healthy and happy life with the eyes they deserve.