By Robert Lapensee
Niagara This Week
Niagara Falls - Maria Klokkou isn't taking her battle against breast cancer lying down.
After fighting off the deadly disease in 2001 with radiation and chemotherapy treatments and living cancer-free for four years, doctors have noticed some activity starting up again and are keeping a close eye on her. She's been running back and forth to Hamilton about once a month in order for doctors to keep tabs on the progression but it hasn't derailed her zest for life. She just keeps on doing what she's always done - paint.
"I haven't got time for cancer, I haven't got time to have it," said Klokkou, the British artist who displays her work at her Lundy's Lane art gallery named Romney House. "That (painting) and my gardens are my treatment.
It's a passion. I keep myself busy and I'm a very positive person."
It's not just painting that is keeping Klokkou busy. She is preparing a reopening for her gallery when renovations are complete. She is also coinciding her own fight against breast cancer with the invitation-only gala reopening.
She will be selling T-shirts with a print of her Pink Poppy painting printed above the words Love Life, with all proceeds going to fight breast cancer.
She is also raffling off one of her paintings, again with proceeds going to breast cancer.
But what she is proudest of is having her Pink Poppy painting as the offical logo for the Life After Breast Cancer Society's annual convention in Hamilton Oct. 26. Klokkou said the society asked her to submit something for the logo as well as to be the guest of honour at the convention.
"I am very honoured they accepted the painting," said Klokkou. "I am very proud because I am a breast cancer survivor."
When she was asked, she knew right away the Pink Poppy, which she completed in 2003, would be just what the society was looking for.
"It's a bright painting, which symbolizes hope," said Klokkou. "It's pink, which is for breast cancer. And it's actually an opium poppy, which is what is used as pain medication.
"I felt flattered because they've done so much for me. It's my donation back to them."
Klokkou's gala opening will run Oct. 16 and is by invitaion only. There will be a wine tasting by Stonechurch Winery, a food tasting by Napoli and live music.
The Art on the Lane gallery will officially open to the public the weekend of Oct. 22-23, although plans for the event haven't been finalized. A collection of Klokkou's oil and pastel floral and portrait paintings as well as her sculptures will be on sale at both events. The Love Life T-shirt, selling for $20, will also be available at Romney House after the opening.
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