Yuma artist's paintings to benefit cancer center

A houseful of paintings by one of Yuma's best-known painters are about to go on sale, delighting local art fans and supporting a local nonprofit organization all at the same time.

Masako (Summers) Robbins, who has been painting in Yuma since the 1970s, says she wants to donate the art from her very own walls to Sunstone Cancer Support Center in Yuma. The local nonprofit organization, which offers cancer survivors alternative therapies and other resources, will receive 30 percent from the sale of Robbins' art.

A special art show is in the works. An assortment of Robbins' paintings, representing years of work in her personal collection, will be given to Sunstone Cancer Support Center, which is located in the historic Gandolfo Building, 202 S. 1st. Ave., Suite 102.

Leaders with the organization say they were thrilled when Robbins approached them with her idea.

"This is just so generous," said Mary Monk, Sunstone's outreach program coordinator. "It's just so wonderful that she is thinking about Sunstone."

Robbins, a cancer survivor herself, volunteers at Sunstone. The artist has helped out by sharing her story of beating cancer at public events such as the Women's Expo.

People wanting more information about the art can call Monk at 783-5595.

"People are just going to love Masako's art," she said. "It's utterly beautiful and she's been well known in Yuma for years."

Robbins taught art at Arizona Western College for 11 years. She also owned several art galleries, including the House of Art and a gallery that was located inside Yuma's historic, long-gone Stardust Hotel.

On top of many art shows presented locally, Robbins' art has been showcased on the national scene. A painting influenced by the desert landscape represented Arizona when Robbins was invited to present her work at a show housed at Lincoln Center in New York City. That event featured artists belonging to an association of painters dedicated to a certain form of Japanese art.

Robbins has studied Asian art techniques in her native Japan, where she has traveled three times for study with an art master.

Robbins estimates that about 100 paintings will be given to Sunstone. The range in price from $100 to several hundred dollars, with paintings of all sizes available. The largest - and most expensive - is a wall-sized seascape going for $19,000. 


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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.