Author and Artist Maureen Egan

Rockport-based artist and writer Maureen Egan will tell the story of creating her book, “The Light From Here: A Breast Cancer Story” .

Egan’s presentation chronicles how making art—both writing and painting— supported her through a series of challenges, culminating in a breast cancer diagnosis in 2012. Her colorful paintings will be projected behind her as she shares her journey.

A 35-year resident of the midcoast, Egan painted still lifes and illustrated a column for Downeast Magazine in the 1980’s when she first moved to Maine. Writing came next, as the development director, then enrollment director for Ashwood Waldorf School for over a decade. In 2006, she returned to painting and has since has shown her work annually at various venues in the midcoast.

Upon finishing five months of active treatment for breast cancer in 2012, Egan utilized the disciplines of painting and writing as a way of processing her experience. “When facing difficulties, I turn to beauty, imagery, and color, which comfort me and lead me to my strength,” Egan says. She studied with writing coach Kathrin Seitz of Rockport and with a group of committed writers for four years while writing her book, which reveals the breadth of her experience, from the suffering to the healing. Each chapter is accompanied by a painting that portrays the symbolic, nonverbal aspects of the experiences she faced.

Egan was recently invited to hang her art at the new Ann Hooper Women’s Imaging Center at Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast, where Egan is a patient. Images from the book will be on display there through the fall.

The library event will include a book signing. Those unable to attend can view Egan’s book and art at Eganart.com.