100 Moments

10:10 10.10: Anatomy of a Moment

Taussig Cancer Center
Cleveland Clinic main campus

Cleveland
10:10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time

As soft morning light streams in through tall windows, Brandi Norman concentrates on the project at hand. With tweezers, she carefully positions dried flowers on a glass plate. Each colorful petal adds another brushstroke to her miniature masterpiece. 

“It’s an escape from the anxiety,” says Brandi, who is being treated for metaplastic breast cancer. For her and her husband of 28 years, Bob, art therapy provides a welcome diversion — an opportunity to be together and simply be themselves. Today they’re joined by their daughter, Peach, who is visiting from San Diego. All three of them are making suncatchers. 

Here in the Gross Family Art Therapy Studio, the creations of others who have sought refuge in this special place enliven the white walls, a testament to the healing power of art. Licensed art therapist Lisa Shea makes her way around the room, offering encouragement and guidance. She sees it time and time again: The creative process has a way of teleporting people far beyond a hospital’s confines. “My mission,” she says, “is bringing comfort and joy.” 

Brandi lifts another fragile flower and puts it in place. If only for a moment, she isn’t thinking about chemotherapy appointments or test results. She’s just piecing together something beautiful with the people she loves — finding, as Lisa would say, “calmness in the storm.” 

Photograph by Michelle Loufman