As a marketing agency, we pride ourselves on helping our clients tell their stories.
As a family, sometimes the stories of our own challenge us, but ultimately inspire us.
In 2021, Vice President and Creative Director, Jim Coe was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, news that was as devastating as it comes. While he was able to fight the cancer off into remission initially, early in 2023 Jim announced he would be taking medical leave again so he could begin new treatment in the wake of his cancer’s return.
As Jim explains, “the cancer journey can take you to some pretty dark places,” so it was important and prudent for him to have a plan this go-around. For as uncomfortable, painful and exhausting as treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can be, time warrants its own consideration—time spent between sessions, between scans and results and seemingly limited time ahead, all weigh on the mind. To combat this dire reality, Jim decided to turn to one of his most enduring strengths: art.
Setting out to not only paint his cancer journey, but to produce enough authentic and telling pieces to fill his first-ever art show, Jim was able to stay busy and do so with purpose. Part of that purpose was to make a difference. Considering how treatable colorectal cancer is, given early detection, Jim thought an art show might just inspire, motivate or remind more people to forgo the pain and mortality of cancer and simply get screened.
Jim’s commitment was both remarkable and unshakable, making over 18 paintings by the time of his art show on Sept. 23 at the Providence Cancer Center. And while he had the hard work of pouring his emotions out in each of his pieces — during his treatment journey, no less — Jim would be the first to tell you that the love and collaboration of so many within his orbit made the art show happen. With support of colleagues past such as Connie Reid and Debbie Reinwand and present like Laurie Fagnani and Kris Miller, the show, the signage and the public reach were as good as ready.
If you had or get the chance to observe Jim’s work, you can’t help but feel the contemplation he gives to simple, yet critical components of life — and life with cancer. Hope, partnership, connection, fear, obstacles and as mentioned above, time, are each featured and weaved throughout his collection.
These days, Jim has returned to MSI and is excited to get to work with his freshly stretched creative abilities. Stepping away gave him space to tell his story, his way. In the process, he discovered new ways to express messages and emotions that he knows will serve future MSI clients well. Because when your most recent message and “call to action” is as important as getting screened, it is undeniable how much of a difference that message can make.
