Sketching to Express
For me, sketching became the media that allowed me the space to see what I could not express. It helped me visualize where I was, what I needed and then to sit with it all. From there, I could begin to understand growth, my own fears and apprehending thoughts about my own disability. After that, I could begin to allow yoga to be my own Spirits Art while my body sought peace.
- Erica Cooper
Painting to Redefine Disability
I love Riva Lehrer’s series Circle Stories. These paintings are portraits of disabled artists and academics who are working to redefine disability. Each painting evokes something of the subject’s personality or something of the focus in their work.
Lehrer centers disability in these portraits. The people and their bodies feel glorious to me. Bold disability beauty.
Looking at the collection makes me feel more alive in my body. The colors and shapes are vibrant; their vibrancy echoes in me.
The portraits also feel like connection. The people Lehrer depicts often look directly out at the viewer. When I look at them, I feel like I am both seeing and being seen. There is kinship between us, even if we never meet. Disability community across time and space.
- Liz Weber
Rebecca Maskos is a scholar and activist working to create a more vibrant disability culture in Bremen, Germany. howwegettonext.com/@rebecca.maskos
Erica, thanks for telling us about your journey… And the fact that you were trying to “understand growth “in a life of disability is encouraging And inspiring!
Liz I am so inspired by that …
Erica I love the idea of spirit Art. I really think art helps us understand ourselves better. I think it was Joan Didion who said I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking. Art does that for me too. It helps me understand what I think and feel. It clears away the cobwebs, as does yoga. Thanks for sharing.
Liz I love this painting that you share. It has so much life in it. Love it. Also I had not heard of these artists so I will definitely look them up.