At a recent showcase in a Miami gallery, one custom radiation mask shines with thousands of mirrored glass shards, while another mask, inspired by a tribal dance from artist Nardiz Cooke’s hometown in northern Mexico, is adorned with deer antlers. Another is studded with thousands of tiny religious figures called milagritos. Other masks are coated in fish scales and seashells. One resembled a knight’s helmet wrought with leaves. Seeing all of the masks on display was momentous, said Cooke. The project started on her first day of treatment four years ago for an aggressive form of cancer. Cooke was intrigued by the custom-fit thermoplastic mask that would direct the radiation beams and protect healthy tissue. Read more about her journey, and her “Radiant Sentinels,” at the link in bio. #cancer #art #artwork