Shana Stern

2024 MSAA Art Showcase Entrants

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Shana Stern – Los Angeles, CA

Thirteen years into my MS diagnosis, I could no longer write or dance – my profession and my passion. Unable to hold a paintbrush because of my MS, I began painting using my fingers and knuckles rather than brushes. I paint each piece to a song – trying to interpret the feeling and movements of the dance. I see in my brain. Crouched over canvas, covered in paint, lost in the music—everything else disappears. All my pain, cognitive, and physical issues dissolve away into beauty & the freedom that painting creates. I’ve lost much to MS, but my art has given me a second chance in life. I still get to tell stories – but instead of using a pen, I use paint. I still get to dance—but instead of my feet, I use my fingers. I hope I will always be able to dance through paint, and hopefully, I can inspire people with my art.

Sundown

I Believe

Hollow Bones