Works of art, born from lingerie

Creative Cups bra auction offers ‘support’ for cancer hotline

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Seeing these highly decorated art bras displayed en masse conjures up images of a strong, feminine army, individual in design, and ready to combat the trials and tribulations of breast cancer. In just two short weeks, the public will have the opportunity to join in their fight.

On Thursday, March 19, nearly 200 art bras will be auctioned off during Creative Cups, a biennial fundraiser for the oldest women’s breast cancer hotline in the country — the Adelphi New York State Breast Cancer and Support Center. The event will be hosted by WNBC co-anchor and breast cancer survivor Pat Battle, and will be held at the university’s Ruth S. Harley University Center. Festivities begin at 6 p.m.

The bras, objects d’art that reflect the artistic expression of lives affected by breast cancer, are so beautiful and creative that it’s almost impossible to remember that they started as off-the-rack, 36C, padded underwires. While many are created by lay people, artists and celebrities also contribute entries, like the granddaughter of Betty Boop’s creator, who created her bra in honor of her mother who died of breast cancer when she was 11.

Deborah Gordon, a Malverne resident, became involved in creating a bra after hearing Battle discuss the event on TV. She immediately convinced her friends, Sandy Crosby and Jodi Morello to create a bra too. Gordon, whose bra is called “Mardi Gras Garden Party,” said her creation grew out of many different things, and was a way to honor her sister and several friends who have been battling breast cancer.

Crosby’s bra entry, “Burst Your Bubble,” is covered in chained bubble gum wrappers and real bubble gum. “When I was small, my mother made the mistake of buying only one box of Bazooka gum for my sister and me to share. Well, we weren’t going to share the box, and we were having this tug of war when suddenly the box blew open, bazooka gum went flying everywhere. We looked at each other, laughed, and we weren’t mad at each other any more,” she said. “That moment stuck with me forever — you never know what’s going to happen in the next instant.”

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