UConn Health

October 4, 2013 | Sarah Turker

Four Artists Join Together to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

The glass blown sculpture is on exhibit in the Health Center’s main lobby through the end of the month.

"Ta-tas" Sculpture

The Ta TasÓ are from left, Larry Livolsi, Markis Tomascak, Richard Tenore and Scott Schaake.

The artists who created The Ta Tas” are from left, Larry Livolsi, Markis Tomascak, Richard Tenore and Scott Schaake. (Sarah Turker/UConn Health Center)

A special sculpture was delivered to the UConn Health Center on Thursday, in honor of breast cancer awareness month. Markis Tomascak, owner and artist of Dragon Fly Studios in New Milford says he was developing the idea of “The Ta Tas” for years. He has known many people who have battled breast cancer, his uncle being one of them. In 2011, Tomascak called on fellow artists in the surrounding communities to join him in creating “this beautiful sculpture illustrating such an ugly disease.”

The glass blown “ta tas,” crafted by Larry Livolsi of Lorenz Studios in Lakeside, are glass pieces blown in various colors representing different skin tones. The lacework and insets surrounding the sculpture were produced by Richard Tenore of Finish Carpentry in Torrington. The backlighting and illuminating was done by Scott Schaake of USA LED of Southbury. Tomascak said, “We did this out of our own pockets, our own time, and our own hands.”

Tomascak is hoping the month-long showing at the UConn Health Center will be the first of many exhibits. Eventually, he’d like to find “The Ta Tas” a permanent home or sell it to fund the creation of a new sculpture in honor of his mother who died of ovarian cancer at the age of 59.

Follow the UConn Health Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.