Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/419085
e women who participated in Bayley's and Alexis' projects modeled clothing donated by a specialty line called Amoena; the clothing is available at Second Act, a Chicago boutique that sells wigs and clothing with built-in prostheses designed to restore women's confidence after breast surgery. A photography studio, a professional photographer who served as a lighting consultant and a makeup artist all donated their time and expertise. Since one in eight women develops breast cancer, it is no surprise that Bayley's and Alexis' own families have been affected by the disease. Bayley's paternal grandmother passed away several years ago after her second battle with breast cancer. Alexis' aunt also fought breast cancer and received a clean bill of health just as this project came to fruition. e personal connections have made the work even more meaningful. "You stop thinking of the women as statistics and start seeing them as people," Alexis explained. "e last question I ask of the women is 'If you could say thank you to someone, who would it be?' I try to stay neutral, but it's hard when they are emotional. I learned that the women still carry trauma, even as survivors." 14 L AT I N M A G A Z I N E A R T S Documenting Recovery Students Support Cancer Survivors Through Art When planning her eleventh-grade independent study project in fashion photography, aspiring photojournalist Bayley Sherman '15 asked herself, "How can I share stories through photography and incorporate a service component?" A serendipitous family connection gave Bayley her answer: She would photograph the women of Recovery on Water (ROW) – a Chicago rowing team comprised of women diagnosed with breast cancer – modeling clothes especially designed for cancer survivors. Bayley was so inspired by the women she met and the team's mission that she invited fellow Latin artist and close friend Alexis Lopez '15 to collaborate with her in documenting their stories. e class project soon grew into a way for Bayley and Alexis to give back to ROW. Bayley hopes to publish a book of her images and Alexis, who works primarily with video, is creating a documentary about the team. ey plan to donate 100 percent of whatever proceeds their endeavors earn to help the team secure a boathouse. "ROW's focus is what life can be after diagnosis," Bayley said, explaining her attraction to the organization's message. It shows, she said, how active and athletic women can remain so despite a cancer diagnosis.