ScART (Scar Art) Umbrella by Artist Yolanda DaSilva-Melo

Yolanda DaSilva-Melo’s story is one of awakening—woven through a series of scars that tell of a double mastectomy, TUG reconstruction surgery, C-sections, and thyroid surgery. Each mark on her body represents not only what she has endured, but what she has come to understand. In her artwork, Yolanda chose hues of blue, gold, and brown—colors that speak to renewal, tranquility, divine wisdom, enlightenment, and grounding. These are not just artistic choices; they are the very gifts she believes her cancer diagnosis brought into her life.

Like many, Yolanda had faced adversity before, but it was cancer that truly stirred something deeper within her. She describes it as a moment when God finally captured her attention—calling her to step out of autopilot and into a more purposeful, intentional life. Her painting, which she sees as both a heart and a face, reflects this realization. The face represents identity, while the heart symbolizes love—the truth that our identity is rooted in love, even when we forget. For Yolanda, cancer was the reminder she didn’t know she needed.

Though she never considered herself drawn to visual art, this experience offered her something unexpected—a new language for her emotions. Through ScART, she found a way to express insights that words alone could not fully capture. It became more than an activity; it was a meaningful reflection of her journey, one she may never have discovered without the opportunity.