Howell Art School To Aid Breast Cancer Fund At Holiday Exhibit

HOWELL, NJ — The paths of two women who grew up Marlboro will meet at a fundraiser at the Harris.Art Academy in Howell on Friday.

The academy owner, Candice Harris, originally from Marlboro, is hosting an art sale fundraiser for a New Jersey organization that raises funds for metastatic breast cancer research.

Harris will be joined by Tami Eagle Bowling, co-founder of the METAvivor New Jersey chapter, at the event to raise awareness - and money - for medical research that can extend the survival rate for those diagnosed with the Stage 4 cancer.

Bowling, now of Scotch Plains, also grew up in Marlboro. A slight age difference meant they weren't schoolmates, but the connection to Monmouth County is there and Bowling will be a speaker at the event.

The Harris.Art Academy is located at Regal Plaza, 2211 Highway 9 North, Store #9, in Howell 07731. The fundraising exhibit will take place there in a tented, heated structure Friday, Dec. 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All are welcome to come.

In fact, you can meet the duo in a Channel 2 New York interview that took place Wednesday morning.

The art academy opened at the height of the pandemic, built on the notion of giving back to the community, say the organizers of the event.

During the pandemic, owner Harris painted over 200 one-of-a-kind heart canvas paintings that were donated to nurses and hospitals throughout New Jersey.

To continue that spirit of giving this holiday season, the art school and its students will host the Holiday Art Exhibit at the school.

There will be an outdoor heated tent with dancing, appetizers, hot chocolate, art for sale - and enthusiastic students, said Bowling.

Also, 100 percent of door donations plus a percentage of any artwork sold through Dec. 22 will be given to METAvivor to fund Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer research, she said.

Bowling, a media professional and a motivational speaker, will be the guest speaker for the evening. She is also the Creator of #LightUpMBC Live and founder of The EAGLE Method, a framework to build resilience to create a healthy state of mind.

Despite living with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, she says she lives each day with gratitude - and is an inspiration to many.

"I found out I had breast cancer after only my second mammogram when I was 41," Bowling says. A full body scan showed it also developed in her liver, and she was given two years to live.

That was seven years ago. She says advances in medical science have extended survival rates for MBC patients, as metastatic breast cancer is referred to.

And she wants to give women hope.

The connection to Harris came about from a painting, Bowling says.

One of Harris’s paintings called “Life” resonated with Bowling after seeing and reading about it on social media. Harris later emulated a painting of “Life” in METAvivor’s ribbon colors of pink, teal for healing and green for hope.

Bowling said the painting now hangs in the Dubin Breast Center at The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, "for all breast cancer patients to be inspired by knowing that they are not alone on their journey."

“Every time I see the tri-color ribbon painting at the hospital, it gives me hope that a long life is possible with continued research and support,” says Bowling.

“I am grateful to Harris.Art Academy for helping shine a light on the critical need for MBC research,” she said.

To support this campaign, visit donate.metavivor.org/HarrisArtAcademy.

METAvivor Research and Support is dedicated to the specific fight of men and women living with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. It exclusively funds Stage 4 MBC research to transition the disease from terminal to chronic with a good quality of life for MBC patients. METAvivor puts 100 percent of donations toward Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer research.

Follow its social channels Facebook and Instagram @METAvivor and @LightUpMBC.

METAvivors of NJ is the local chapter of the national organization METAvivor Research and Support. Now with over 612 members, it functions primarily through a Facebook group @METAvivorsOfNJ to offer information to anyone in New Jersey affected by metastatic breast cancer.

The goal of this group is to provide ways to stay educated on the latest research, inspire action for better laws for MBC patients and advocate for increased funding for Stage 4 breast cancer.