By Jody Kerzman

There is something therapeutic about art.

No one knows that better than Lydia Richez-Bowman.

After a brief career in nursing, Lydia focused on being an artist; she was involved in art organizations in California and North Dakota. In October 2014, her dream came true, when with her husband’s support, Lydia opened her own art gallery in downtown Bismarck: ART Gallerie on Main “The little French Gallerie.”

“I am just crazy about art,” she says with a twinkle in her eye.

She is also enthusiastic  about helping others. So when the phone rang in April 2015, Lydia jumped at the chance to combine her two passions.

“I got a call from the Bismarck Cancer Center. They were wondering if I would be interested in teaching a class for cancer patients and survivors,” recalls Lydia. “Would I? I had been wanting to do this for years, but there had never been funding or space for such a thing. Now there was both and I jumped at the chance.”

Lydia had about a month and a half to prepare for her first class. She did her homework; she wanted her class to be exactly what her students needed.

“I had worked with kids and had done adult art classes, but nothing like this. I wanted to keep it simple, but not too simple,” she explains. “I wanted to challenge them, but not so much that they would be frustrated.”

After looking at what other hospitals and cancer centers were doing around the country, she came up with a plan and offered her first healing art class in May 2015.

“I’ll never forget that first phone call I received from a cancer patient who wanted to take my class,” recalls Lydia. “Her voice was raspy and strained. I could hardly understand her, and I struggled to hold my tears back. I wasn’t sure I could do this. But I knew I couldn’t cry in front of my students either.

“I received more calls, and that’s when Nurse Lydia came out. I set a barrier, and allowed myself to only go in so deep. I couldn’t get wrapped up in their pain.”

Because it was a pain Lydia knew all too well. She fought her own cancer battle 16 years ago.

“I had breast cancer. I had surgery, chemo, radiation, tamoxifen. I had it all. And I understand the fear.”

Perhaps it is that understanding that has made Lydia’s healing art classes so healing. It is something she has felt called to do since her diagnosis in 2000.

“My cancer was a blessing. It made me look at my life in a new way,” Lydia explains. “Anything that hurts me is a lesson and a blessing. There is a reason I have experienced certain things in my life. When I got done with my cancer battle I felt like I was supposed to do something.”

Lydia’s Healing Arts Workshops have grown; she now offers them one Thursday and one Saturday a month. She has as many as 12 patients in each class. Lydia’s classes are the only healing art classes offered in North Dakota. They are free of charge to cancer patients, survivors, and caretakers

“We have lost a few. Cancer is a horrible disease. But I have my regulars, my survivors. I have one who is a 12 year survivor. They just love coming. And then we also have those who are still fighting their cancer, those who are just getting done with treatment, and those who are long term survivors. Their art often reflects where they are in their battle. There is power in art. There is great support here. It is sort of a support group for them. We cry, we create, we laugh, we are a lifeline.”

Lydia says it is a lifeline which has come full circle for her; art was her therapy during her own cancer fight. Now she says, the Healing Arts Workshops are her way of giving back.

“Painting was my therapy during my cancer treatments,” says Lydia. “I created a series of paintings of seven women. I’m now working on a book based on those paintings. I learned a lot about myself. I feel gifted and I am so lucky to share that gift with people.”

To learn more about Lydia’s Healing Arts Workshop, as well as other classes she teaches, call 701-425-8439 or check out her website.

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