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Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Dan Keplinger, King Gimp PUBLIC/PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Monday, August 31, 2020
Do You, or Don’t You Want to Acknowledge Us?
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First in the 2016 election, the Republicans try to throw out the Disability vote in the south, since many people were not able to sign their own names. This is insane because I have been doing Absentee Ballot since I was 18 and it even gives the option to have someone sign for you.
If I cannot sign my name does that mean I do not even exist, because I cannot sign the back of my Social Security Card. If this is so, I do not have to follow any of societies rules and ride around naked.
Once again, in the 2020 election the Republicans are trying to suppress the disability vote by doing away with the United States Postal Service. The mail box does not know the difference between an absentee, or mail-in ballot. In fact, there is little difference, absentee ballots are request by voters, and mail-ins are automatically mailed out. There is no special way to tell the difference, so by default Trump wants to take away the right to vote from millions of people. For example, there are In the United States alone, 48.9 million people who have a disability and in general 1 of every 6 voters has some type of disability. In Maryland a lone 66% of voters are People with Disabilities that took part in the 2012 Election.
It seems as if the only way that the Republicans want to hear from PWDs, is when they can control the messaging and it becomes propaganda. The most recent incident happened Sunday night in a tweet from Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) showing a video of activist Ady Barkan got a “manipulated media” label from Twitter. Barkan has ALS and speaks through voice assistance.
“The edited version of the clip in Scalise’s tweet, adding the words “for police,” at the end of that question, makes it appear that Barkan is asking Biden to defund police completely, a position Biden has said he does not support.”
This also happened to me in the 2000 Election, some low life took clips from King Gimp and inserted a “voice over” so it sounds as if I was a Bush supporter, at least I think. To be fair, I could not figure out what political party this would support. The editor was just being an ass.
No matter what your Political party is, you should be mad when a group is being used as Political pawns.
Friday, August 21, 2020
ADA VS Universal Design
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ADA VS Universal Design
M.C. Escher, meets ADA, does the ADA lead to Universal Design or does Universal Design comply with ADA without trying. The interesting fact is that they are not the same, there are no regulations for Universal Design. I would have thought they would go hand and hand, because I want to live in a world that is accessible for all. For example, maybe more public places will start installing automatic doors, so people do not have to touch anything due to COVIC-19 and other germs. At the same that makes places more accessible for People with Disabilities.
Sunday, August 16, 2020
The Artist Way 2020
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August 16,
I Do Have Roots
I may be getting back to my Chuck Close roots, when work digitally I zoom in 200%. It still makes my giggle that is an App to create images in a Chuck Close style, I wonder if he gave input on this project. I this the whole reason of creating art in other Artist style, is to see if they could help influence your own work. When you push a button to create an image, does not help you understand the process, nor would seem to be as fulfilling. One might also consider, how word prediction miss-strews our thought while composing sentences.
I wish, I could look at a canvas and what is in my head would just appear, but would that be as rewarding as working through the creating process. Really working digitally takes longer then I work in a tradition medium, most people would assume the opposite. Even I work with process as Photolithography, it takes longer, because a lot of it is finding out what does not work. I found when you combine art and technology, most of your time is spent on trial and error.
Sunday, August 9, 2020
The Value of Being in The Class Room
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Can the Government Really Force Parents to Send Kids back to School?
It is a complex situation, especial when you talk about Special Ed. I know my success is a result of my education. it also feels good when people are being smart asses and Wifey says "so do you have two bachelor's and a Masters"? At the same time, I am luck my disability is not the type that comes with a lot of health issues it just wares my body out.
It might keep everyone healthier if students are kept home from school, but you must also think about the development impact on the student. Not only socially, but also when their schedule is disrupted, this could start a downward spiral. I know for myself I have pro-social distancing, since I can’t really where a mask and sanitize. Any day Wifey thinks I am going to snap, and I feel that way too from social distancing.
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Dan Keplinger AKA King Gimp In The Press
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December 3,
Crippingupsex We have Oscar Award winning documentary filmmaker, King Gimp, @DankKingGimp and his wife, Dena, In Bed with Eva! We talk about painting, being in an interabled relationship, and more! Read the whole ChatCast.
October 1,
Dan Keplinger talks about art, his life-long activism and ‘King Gimp’ his Oscar-winning movie
By Susan IsaacsSeptember 30, 2020
Susan Isaacs interviews Dan Keplinger, her former student and the subject and co-creator of the film "King Gimp," which observes Dan's life as an artist with Cerebral Palsy. Susan reflects on the curation of “Public/Private Conversations," (a current exhibition of Dan's work) and follows up with a Q&A with Dan. Read on to hear how he feels about being a documentary film star!
Author’s Preface: I have known Dan for about 15 years. He took several art history classes with me as an undergraduate and graduate student at Towson University; as curator of the Holtzman MFA Gallery, I also worked closely with him on his 2007 MFA exhibition. He wrote his papers for me using his headpiece, typing out the words, one letter at a time. Dan’s impact on students demonstrates his perseverance and his leadership. There were several MFA students in a graduate seminar I was teaching, and Dan was one of them. The first night of class, everyone introduced themselves. Dan does not use an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device, so you must listen very carefully to him speak. This is important as he believes that a voice translator removes his humanity.
Since I knew him as an undergraduate, I had become accustomed to listening to him, and I was able to help the class understand him when students had questions. Three students for whom English was a second language came up to me after class to talk. They said that they were thinking of dropping the course since it was so much reading and writing and discussion and oral presentations and it would be very difficult for them; but after meeting Dan, they decided to stay. The comment that has remained with me all these years is, “If he can do it, then we can too.” And they did stay with the course, and they all, including Dan, did very well.
September 14,
Sharing his voice through art
BY REBECCA KIRKMAN
Keplinger retrospective show celebrates anniversary of ADA, “King Gimp” documentary
It’s been 20 years since the Oscar-winning short documentary “King Gimp” thrust Dan Keplinger ’98, ’07 into the spotlight. Written by Keplinger, who has cerebral palsy, and distributed by HBO, the short film follows the artist’s life from age 13 to his graduation from Towson University.
In the film, Keplinger discovers a passion for art as a student at Parkville High School — where he began painting and drawing with a paintbrush attached to a headpiece — and continues that passion at TU. “Art gave me a way to express myself without anyone interpreting for me,” he says in the film.
Two decades later, the artist and disability rights activist has exhibited and spoken around the globe, including multiple solo shows at the Phyllis Kind Gallery in New York City. He received his MFA in studio art with a scholarship from TU in 2007.
This fall, on the 20th anniversary of the film and the 30th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Keplinger returns to Towson for a retrospective of his work. The Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education presents “Public/Private Conversations,” an exhibition of Keplinger’s work curated by J. Susan Isaacs. Originally scheduled for April 2020, the exhibition has been rescheduled for Sept. 22–Oct. 20 at Towson Town Center.
August 15,
VIA: Beth Haller
This fall at Towson University, on the 20th anniversary of the "King Gimp" film and the 30th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Dan Keplinger returns to Towson for a retrospective of his work.
The Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education presents “Public/Private Conversations,” an exhibition of Keplinger’s work curated by J. Susan Isaacs. Originally scheduled for April 2020, the exhibition has been rescheduled for Sept. 22–Oct. 17 at Towson Town Center.
We will also screen the "King Gimp" documentary online October 6 with a live, online panel discussion to follow with King Gimp - Dan Keplinger, myself, film professor Greg S Faller, and art professor Stuart Stein. (Specific details to follow).
August 12,
ALWAYS IN HIGH DEMAND: LIFE, LAUGHTER, AND ART.
As our artists and staff have carried on with studio life during this most unusual Make Studio summer, our founders and Board recently finalized our phased plan for both reopening our physical studio and improving virtual services for the long haul
ALWAYS IN HIGH DEMAND: LIFE, LAUGHTER, AND ART. http://ow.ly/Bkkm30r0gNh As our artists and staff have carried on with studio life during this most unusual Make Studio summer, our founders and Board recently finalized our phased plan for both reopening our physical studio and improving virtual services for the long haul. Kicking this off last week was a visit from long-time Make Studio friends, artist Dan Keplinger (aka King Gimp) and his partner Dena, planned in-tandem to #ADA30 celebrations.
July 23,
THE EVOLUTION OF DISABILITY IN FILM: AFTER THE ACCOLADES, THE WORK CONTINUES (Some shameless publicity hahahaha)
Once upon a time, disability was just a diagnosis. Through time, the word has evolved to encompass larger more expansive concepts like community, identity, and culture. In 2020—thirty years after passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act—anyone who still thinks of disability solely as a medical issue might not realize it but they’re also increasingly signaling to the world at large that they’re behind the times not just in theory but arguably by several decades.
Culturally, for a variety of reasons, both experiences and depictions of disability are receiving renewed interest and increased attention. Cinematically speaking, the complicated, messy, ever-changing relationship that viewers and creators have had with disability continues—quite literally—to play out before our very eyes.
Before we can truly move forward, let us pause a moment to glance back.
Saturday, July 18, 2020
The Flags That Divide
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When I was young and received gifts with the confederate flag on them, I never felt comfortable about having them around. I always knew it came with bad mojo, although people tried to say it means you are a rebel. Even at a young age, I always thought of it as a symbol of hatred, it not only stands for racism, but a believe so strong that it led to the murder of President Lincoln. Till this very day, when I see the confederate flag amongst someone’s belonging, I question their believes. If the South won the war, the world would be in different place and I might be locked up as an animal.
Since they banned the swastika in Germany, the hate groups use the confederate flag. So, no matter what excuse you want to use they both are symbols of hate. Even if you do not see the confederate flag as a symbol of hate, it represents the opposite of what America stands for. The Civil war was started, because some “States” wanted to keep slavery and did not see the value of their lives. When someone is a slave, they are not seen as human and have no rights. Even the Declaration of Independence declares that “all men are created equal”, one of the fundamental values that America was born on. If you want to be a cool “rebel” from the south have at it, but I also have the right to question your believes.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Artists Opportunities 2020
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July 14,
Application for ADA Generation Bloggers and Signal Boosters with Disabilities
In honor of the ADA30, we are looking for ADA Generation aged youth bloggers, social media influencers and signal boosters with disabilities to join the social media team of ADA30 LEAD ON: Celebration of Disability Arts, Culture, Education & Pride on Thursday, July 23 from 7 - 9:15 pm ET, streamed on Facebook Live and YouTube.
Each member of the social media team will receive a $250 honorarium, will be expected to signal boost social media presence before, during and after the show - plus you get to work with Anita Cameron.
Because of past erasure from history, it is very important to us that during this celebration, voices of ADA Generation bloggers, social media influencers and signal boosters of color from multiply marginalized communities are amplified. We will be prioritizing those applications to make sure that BIPOC voices, contributions, ideas and aspirations are part of this celebration, and of future events.
If you are interested, kindly complete the application before Wednesday, July 15 at 8 pm ET. Thank you and Lead On. #ADA30LeadOn
Monday, June 29, 2020
The Message is in the Mark (2007)
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Before I get into my own work, I would like to talk about the VSA (VSA International Art Program for Children with Disabilities), it is a very valuable resource. It cares about the visual and performance on the state, national and international level.
It not only promotes individual as artist, put also makes the artist gain confidence in their selves and their work.
It has been said before my art is my own language as myself portraits. I call them my visual diary, by the color and the way the paint is puts down you can tell my emotions at the time.
During my graduate work I have been develop my own iconographic language for living as a disabled person. I have also been painting about some of the daily situation that I come across.
My goal here today is not to make you see how conceptual art can be. Rather to make you think art is a way of expression and how accessible it should be for the disabled and used as a form of communication. The problem is that people think art needs to representational, or done with certain medium, or technique. You can ask any art historian and the will say art movements are dead and anything goes.
Take my painting; I used to only use my headstick to do my work. But lately I have been painting the background by my hands. This allows my to be more gesurual. So now the emotion is not only achieved by color, but also by the marks that are made by my “uncontrollable hands”.
I not only use the brush in my hands, but some times glove up and move the paint with my hands. A few of my professors have suggested that I go abstract, but I feel that I need to have some narrative to my painting.
Art is about solving problems; the problem is not only about what to say? But also how to say it, what medium, what tool? The disabilities have a lot to contribute the world’s culture, but it is not a social priority.
Another way that I discovered to put more emotion in my drawings is to put up layers. Yes, is my professor who come with the ideas of how to improve my work, I am the one to find how execute them.
It is hard for my to use the long side of the pastel, so I decide to keep the piece that got too short to tape onto the headstick. I crush these pieces right on top of the paper and blend them in to my desire.
The last indever I would like to let you know about is my exploration with clay. If anyone said I would be working in this medium everyone would have laugh at him or her. I was lucky to meet the right professor that would hear out and show me the option to produce what thought up.
I hope this has given you some new prospective about art. Maybe now you know a friend, or client that needs a way to release their inner emotion and this has given you a different approached to a solution. M I you have any questions my email is: dank@kinggimp.com.
Monday, June 1, 2020
Racism and Hate in America
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Maybe this is a spark of hope, but honestly a few bad seeds will always cause decay to the whole orchard. Sadly, there will always be discrimination in the world as long as we have people like King Trump in office, who does not see all people as equals and will abuse their power. We all experience different degrees of discrimination and it should pull as together to say enough is enough, because one ounce of hate is too much.
When I do go out, I should have my Master’s degree floating over my head. Even if this was possible, there will always be someone who acts like I have the R-word tattooed on my forehead. I do not compare this being killed; the fact is when we go out of our homes, we all have a label/target on our backs. If you keep fanning the flames for hundreds of years, you will get torched.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Disability Movement in Maryland 2020
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September 15,
OUR VOTES MUST COUNT
W.E.A.N. is a mentoring program servicing women with a varying degrees of dis-ABILITIES. The mission is to “wean” women with dis-ABILITIES from having their limitations be their focal point, thus having them live with their ABILITIES!
May 11,
From: Maryland Department of Health - Developmental Disabilities Administration
If you missed the DDA Appendix K Guidance webinars held May 5-7. Below are the topics and links to the recorded webinars.
May 5, 2020
Webinar on #1 - Retainer Payment Guidance ,#2 - Residential Day Time Shared Service Hours Authorization, #3 - Personal Supports Authorization and Exceptions, and #7 - Increased Rate for Supporting Person with COVID-19 Virus
May 6, 2020
Webinar on #4 - Exceptions to Pre Authorization and Service Requirements, #5 - COVID-19 New Services Authorization Request Process, and #11 Self-Direction Provisions
May 7, 2020 Webinar on #6 - Staff Training and On-boarding Flexibility, #8 - Service Delivery in Alternative Settings and Out of State, #9 - Site Capacity (Exceed License Maximum), and #10 - Exceed Group Size and 1:1 2:1 Exception Request
Jan, 26,
In Maryland - please spread the word. Action Alert! Need testimony for next Wednesday 1/29 hearings on election law Disability accessibility Bill’s HB140 and 142. I also need everyone to contact Members of the Judiciary Committees to bring HB33 up for discussion and vote. This is the bill that criminalizes emotional abuse towards vulnerable adults. 4108413793 or michele.guyton@house.state.md.us
Friday, May 1, 2020
PUBLIC/PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS
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It might be a contradiction that I have a heavy presence on social media, and I do not know what I ever did without text, but when it comes to one on one communication, I have always resistance using ACC Devices. Technology is meant to enhance our lives, not be a substitute for human touch. For example, the mythological third arm that people always spoke of for an eternity, now this has become to be reality with the use of voice control. Does it have the same connotation as walking/rolling across the room to turn the light on for someone?
As art and technology merge, how do I keep my voice from disappearing that is what I was mostly concerned about as I turned to digital media. My mark making in my artwork is my language, this lets the viewer see my thoughts without having an interpreter between us being, human or electronic devices. No matter whether I communicate by voice, or art there is an intimacy that creates an unexplainable bond with me. I might talk with thousands of brush strokes and words, but it only takes one to feel my passion.
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