Dear Life, This little guy showed up on my daily walk. He found his space in the landscape and makes me smile. Today I am happy to move back into a studio space at the Santa Fe Community College. I am grateful to be feeling healthy, strong, and able to work. I am an artist living with cancer. Diagnosed in 2020 with Stage 4 Large-Cell Lymphoma, I am always aware of how vulnerable and precious life is. Thank you Life and for all the little things along my journey.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
Dear Life, The times we are in ask me to reflect, to remember, how does one make sense and meaning of world events? What is my place in community? How can I best serve? I am an artist and a recovering addict. I live into the answers through daily spiritual and creative practices, being as loving as I can. My “unknowing” mind picks up the pen and paintbrush to see and hear my Spirit speak, to comfort and give hope when my human body feels the heaviness of violence causing catastrophic harm to so many for so many years. Help me to live and make a better world.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
Dear Life, The collage pieces and watercolor float together on the page. Their image indicate the stages of the body healing: embryonic, restoration, rejuvenation. All require rest and relaxation along moderate movement. And patience. My mind tells me I am a rocket ship! But my Spirit knows I need to pray, God grant me the serenity to be patient.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
Collage and Watercolor 09.09.2025
Dear Life, Three years ago, my dear friend and mentor, Virginia Dwan, passed into the next realm. I miss her, our conversations and travels, her presence. There wasn’t a thing I couldn’t share with her. Virginia understood and supported my work as an artist, always encouraging me, discussing ideas, concepts, and applications. She was a brilliant mind and generous benefactor in the world-at-large. My last words to her were, “Your Spirit will live on within me.” And it does.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
Collage 09.2025
Dear Life, My dictionary app helps me to understand my body of emotions. Pensive: musingly or dreamily thoughtful, sometimes suggesting sadness. After 5 years of treatments, aggressive cancer cells cannot be detected in scans but small B-cell lymphoma is lit up near my aorta: the great arterial trunk that carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries through the body. Are we ever out of the landscape of cancer once it has been diagnosed? Many people are living in this question. I use words, art, and community to cope. We help one another to navigate life. Thank you for listening.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
Contemporary Figure Collage 08.2025
Dear Life, I am doing a series of collages using maps I collected during my summer road trip. Here is Pennsylvania in progress. I will submit this to my Contemporary Figurative Projects class. It shows how the “figure” is elemental in mapping one’s life, past and present, while offering a glance towards the future: travel, writing, creating art, being in beauty. The caption in the lower center reads: “there she is ____ walking on air ____ she is”.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
Dear Life, A year ago, my mother Rose, passed from this world. She is still a force of energy making visitations in the form of bees, butterflies and “bling”. She loved all things that sparkled. Rose had a deep hope to meet her first grandchild and my daughter, Tracy, who was released at birth for adoption in 1968. This dream came true in 2021 after Tracy and I reunited through Ancestry. Rosie did not quit before the miracle. Mom you are loved and missed by many. Let Rose be an inspiration.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
Photo of Tracy and Rose
Dear Life, My life is a day at a time, a season at a time, a daily page of people, places and things. And there are seasonal events that appear such as, First Day of School. I happily take a page out of last year’s Love Letters and return to campus today. I have the first draft of the “Love Letters to Life” book in my hands. There is work to be done in order for it to be ready for the world but I am smiling to see the pages of my life in print. Let’s live a new one!
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
Dear Life, The PetScan revealed no Aggressive Large Cell Lymphoma. A miracle! There are 2 small lit up areas near aorta that are likely Small B Cell activity but these are shrinking in size since last scans. This is the best PetScan since 2020. My immune system is working. No treatment needed. I will have Bloodwork and see oncologist in 3 months; Petscan in 6 months. I thank my Higher Power, my Body and Spirit, my medical team, and all my loved ones and community. Without your love and support, this would not be possible.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
Collage 08.14.2025
Pamela Rose Markoya 