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Monday, June 29, 2020

The Message is in the Mark (2007)

The Message is in the Mark
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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

Disability Movement in Maryland
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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

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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.


Be Thankful Obey Me, 2002 Legs Just Another Night Out
Closest Ears Up The Dan Turbulence I
500 quadquilith time My Gate Way Yaaaa
Free Past Good & Evil Nurture
The Winndow Beastly The Real Fear
Bondage of Liberty No My Precious
   
  Awareness VS Activist  

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Morning Surprise

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I woke up this morning and discovered this note left on my Facebook page.

Hello Mr. Ward,
Thank you for investing in my work and me as an Artist, I am so happy to hear that you are still enjoying it. I often wonder where my works ends up since they are so personal to me.
This is a portrait of my little sister and me. The three of us were in my brother's room on a Sunday and he just snapped a picture for his Photography class. Looking back on it now this is more than a picture, but an event in time that seemed meaningless at the time since our brother passed in 2014.
Thank you for sparking this memories-Dan!!!!

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Disabilities in Films and Other Media 2020

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March 24,
Virtual Sprout Film Festival
Looking for a COVID-19 distraction? Please enjoy this free full-screen playlist of 10 popular short films, featuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, from the Sproutflix catalogue.


Jan, 27,
Disability-Rights Movement Takes Spotlight at Sundance
NYTimes picked up Associated Press coverage and kept headline DISABILITY-RIGHTS MOVEMENT TAKE SPOTLIGHT AT SUNDANCE. This is a game changer!! Congrats Jim LeBrecht​, Sara Bolder​ Nicole Newnham Malarkey​, The Heumann Perspective with Judith Heumann​, Denise Sherer Jacobson​, Neil Jacobson​, Corbett OToole​, Ann Cupolo Freeman and the whole team at Higher Ground Productions. Lead On!
Sundance spotlight/tidal wave of advocacy includes authentic Deaf/disability leaders/storytellers - Lawrence Carter-Long​, David Radcliff​ Nic Novicki​, Jade Bryan​, Danny Woodburn​ - thanks to The Ruderman Family Foundation​ for partnering with Sundance to insure accessibility.
As the nation ramps up to ADA30, CRIP CAMP is a cinematic milestone in the history of disability in media - the Disability Narrative Imperative at its very best -- check it out:

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Monday, March 23, 2020

The Artist's Mind 2020

The Artist's Mind
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September 3,
What is happening to the arts when school are not running as normal? I encourage all parents to have an Artist corner at home, with ton of art supplies and musical instruments even it is dollar store stuff. Please, please do not worry about them staying in the lines or filling up the page. I mean are adults staying in the lines these days.


March 22,
Dozens of Museums and Libraries Offer Free Downloadable Coloring Books
I bet I could do this with my own work, just simplify the palette and make a line selection on each layer to create the outlines. Do I really want people to fill in the blanks, or use my art to inspire them in creating their own language of expression.


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