Center Stage Arts in Health features watercolor paintings by Cancer Institute patient Bob Lillie throughout the summer of 2023. Lillie’s artistic tributes to his healthcare team can be viewed at the Community Art Gallery located outside of T2500.
At the height of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, Bob said he noticed many nurses posting photos of their faces on Twitter and Facebook after 12-hour shifts of wearing medical masks. The captions relayed stories of how difficult and trying the time was. As a tribute to the nurses, Bob started to paint their portraits and a 20-painting series entitled “The Faces of 2020” resulted. Four of those paintings are included in this exhibit. When Bob read about a nurse who committed suicide because she became so overwhelmed, he decided to try and help in his own way. He had some of the paintings from that series made into postcards with “Thanks” written across them. He freely passed out the cards to as many hospital staff during his treatment.
Nathan Sattazahn M.Ed, NCC, LPC, specialist clinical counselor with the Penn State Cancer Institute CARE (Cancer Assistance and Resource Education) Center encouraged Bob to share his artwork with a larger community after seeing, and experiencing, the positive impact that his art had on participants in the CARE Center stage 1-3 cancer support group.
“Bob is humble about his artistic abilities and benefited from a gentle nudge to share his talent with others in need of an encouraging and meaningful images to aid with their perspective during difficult times. I felt that Bob was deserving of recognition for the positive impact he has on everyone he meets, his presence is beyond valued during stage 1-3 cancer group meetings,” says Nathan. He linked Bob with Center Stage Arts in Health in the College of Medicine Department of Humanities.
Director of Center Stage Claire de Boer says, “We are honored to showcase the work of a patient who creates art as tribute to a healthcare team and as a way to navigate the feelings associated with cancer care.” Bob also submitted work to the Department of Humanities art and literary journal Wild Onions. Out of hundreds of submissions two of his paintings were chosen to be included. He also earned first place for art in the patient category.
In June, Center Stage hosted an artist reception in the gallery. Bob’s family, friends, and care team shared in the celebration of his work. “It was very important to have my key doctors in attendance. In my own small way, my paintings were an attempt to honor all those who took care of me in my fight against cancer. The biggest surprise was seeing my brothers and some immediate family members in attendance. A special event became even more significant as it was shared with them,” Lillie says.
In November 2021, Bob sought medical treatment for a mouth sore that wouldn’t heal. He received a squamous cell cancer diagnosis and chose to have his treatment at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. On January 6, 2022, Bob underwent a successful ten-hour operation directed by Karen Choi, MD. This was followed by six weeks of radiation treatment supervised by Sean Mahase, MD. Alexa Lantz, PA, provides a regular follow-up for the radiation oncology team. Bob completed watercolor paintings of each of them to reflect their importance to him.
Bob presented an additional watercolor painting to Dr. Choi that he created of her in the operating room. “It was an honor to be a part of Bob Lillie’s art show and be represented in his artwork. Although we have been a part of his journey from start to finish as members of his care team, his artwork highlights the part of his life and journey that we were not a part of; the parts that only he and his family experienced outside of the hospital, and the life story and experiences that brought Bob to this point in time today. I am truly grateful to be a part of his journey and it serves as a daily reminder of why we do what we do,” says Dr. Choi.
Physician Assistant Alexa Lantz will receive the painting that Bob created of her when the exhibit closes. “Bob’s art is truly amazing and I am so glad he is able to share his talents with all that walk by. I can honestly say I have never had a portrait painted of me so this is something I will treasure forever. I hope his artwork inspires others to pursue their passions and not let cancer treatments interfere with doing what they love,” she says.
Likewise, Dr. Mahase will receive his portrait. He attended the art reception and noted, “Bob’s work eloquently evokes varying sentiments of the last few years. He forges forward, illustrating both the crushing obligations and unyielding hope that the medical field, and our community at large, collectively share. This is highlighted by graciously sharing his personal journey through the emotive eyes that no one but Bob Lillie could illustrate. He modestly mentioned his works are a form of appreciation, when in actuality, it is his care team that is grateful to be part of his medical journey.”
More about Bob: He retired from the State College Area School District where he served as a middle school social studies teacher. In addition to teaching, he coached football and softball. He directed numerous plays as the drama advisor.
Upon retirement, Bob decided to explore watercolor painting. He enrolled in some preliminary art courses at the Art Alliance in State College where his first painting was a cabin on a hill surrounded by vegetation. Before the paintings were shown to the class, an embarrassed Bob signed his painting “Bobby Lillie, Grade 2.” A long struggle with the watercolor medium ensued and, in fact, continues to this day. Thanks to many patient, encouraging instructors and almost daily painting, perseverance began to pay off.
