Comments

I am impressed by the artists I'm associating with and for the first time feel an affiliation with other physically and emotionally disabled individuals. Most of my life, so far, has been before the 1990 disabilities act, so I've struggled with the impact of personal and social barriers for some time. In particular, before handicap parking, I remember having to walk for blocks carrying a large, awkward, heavy portfolio to class at ASU. The struggle remains vivid in my mind. Whoever wrote from the standpoint of the disabled individual had read what the artists wrote and could relate. Complete representation of the disabled artist. I am proud of my affiliation. (This is first time I've been a part of a group of individuals that are disabled and it is very supportive.) I really think the emotional quality is evident in the disabled artists work. My personal opinion is that the difficulties of life experienced by an individual that is limited in one area act in reverse to open up an area of expression in another area that would have gone unrealized, if the individual had not experienced their disability.
- Mary

If anything, those with disabilities have different experiences to convey because of their limitations and/or confinements. However, those creations which depict sadness and despair are overpowering for the general public and do not contribute to the public "seeing" the disabled as the gifted individuals they are. Often, focusing upon differences initially is used to evoke sorrow and fear rather an attitude of acceptance and an appreciation of those gifts. Obviously, like many other troubled artists, using their troubles to highlight their condition is useful but inhibits the equality necessary to be considered as human beings. Reducing fear should be a main priority initially. I don't know much about the schools of art, however, all public facilities are required (in theory)to provide for disabilities, aren't they, under the ADA laws? What I would really like to see is disabled artists transcend their limitations/restraints and create art which magnifies the beauty they see. Often having a different perspective from operating at a slower pace, or seeing different things gives them a far greater appreciation of the world and its gifts than others see.
- Patricia

An artist with a disability is limited from succeeding by the same things that would have limited him/her if they were an abled bodied person. Is that a hard statement? Of course it is. But success as an artist is difficult. With a disability, some doors close, some doors open. Learn what they are and go for it with style and character. Make an entrance, make a statement. I frankly have found that being a merchant before I was an artist (although, somewhere in my mind I was always an artist) was in lots of ways as much of a disability as being in a wheelchair. Obviously in lots of ways it did not come close. I began as a merchant and ended as a merchant. The transition to being viewed as an artist and not a merchant was difficult. Thankfully as an artist I still have a business mind and that is something most artist need and unfortunately do not have.
- Robert

You have to take what you have and make the very best of it. As I have said before, a disability is not always a liability. It , a disability, made me what I am and that is not a liability. It made me do more than I had to do. Some people do that naturally, they are born with it, I wasn't. A disability made me work for it and I found I could do it. That is a very nice feeling.
- Bobby