Poe Park Visitor Center Online Gallery: Disabilities Awareness Exhibition
The Poe Park Visitor Center proudly presents a Disability Awareness Virtual Exhibition. The exhibition features moving, powerful, and thought-provoking works from emerging and established artists living with physical, mental, neurological, and/or emotional conditions.
About Poe Park Visitor Center
Poe Park Visitor Center is a community hub at Poe Park in the Bronx that offers art, literature, fitness, and community events, including adaptive programming for all. This exhibition was previously scheduled to take place in-person in May; due to the coronavirus pandemic, the center is closed until further notice and the gallery has temporarily moved online.
Various Artists, Institute for Applied Human Dynamics

"Art Skull" by Clottey A. Griffth
11 x 14, Collagraph Print on Rice Paper, 2020
Although Clottey Griffith has only just begun his journey with art, using art as a means of self-discovery, it is evident that this form of expression is a powerful means to explore the meaning of the world around him. Clottey's curiosity and self-awareness can be seen throughout his work, each element tells a unique story of someone finding joy in everyday life.
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About the Institute for Applied Human Dynamics (IAHD)
The Institute for Applied Human Dynamics has committed to positively impact the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The art program is one of many programs at IAHD that is helping to enrich the lives of many individuals. The program gives participants a platform in which to express themselves while developing skills that will enable them to display their work alongside that of working artists. This enables them to showcase their talent and ability to an otherwise exclusive community, integrating their work with that of their peers. These pieces were selected and curated by the program's Creative Arts Coordinator, Johnny Mattei.
Bobbi Beck
Bobbi Beck has spent years documenting her daily experiences, feelings, and emotions while living and working in New York City. The selected pieces shown here were done over time.
Message from the artist: Reflected in these works are some of the same issues that we all confront and deal with especially now in today’s uncertain world. As you look at each piece, see if you can also find yourself woven into these images.

Disability / Migraine
22 x 28, Mixed Media, 2020
My young granddaughter has been having migraines for years. I first became aware of her condition during a sleepover, when she became very sensitive to bright light and sound, pulling a blanket over her head for most of the day. She also was losing her sense of balance and direction. Over the years, she has learned how to cope with this unpredictable condition. This drawing illustrates the pain and suffering she fights and struggles with as she grows older in dealing with her own personal disability.
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Silvia Blumenfeld: Crippled, Queer, and Here

Still Here
8x10, Photo, black and white
This young woman inspired me to keep resisting. [I] met her at the NYC Women’s March.

Window
11x14, Acrylic
This piece is about fighting anxiety and depression — continuing our resistance.
Michelle Pappas: Sincerely
Upon doing some research, these pieces include real quoted notes left on actual invisible illness sufferer's cars when parked in a handicapped parking spot. When someone insinuates that an invisible illness sufferer is not disabled enough to use their placard because they are not in a wheelchair, it is the same as telling them they are not worthy of getting out of their house, socializing, spending time with their family or enjoying the best of what life has to offer.


Laura Anne Walker
Message from the artist: These paintings are from my Psych War (a play on words: War vs. Ward) Series. My illness was triggered by the sickness and death of my mother in 1993, combined with the prior deaths of my aunt and uncle, all three within nine months. The cats that graced my life are my muses. They helped me start to live again.

Help Me!
11 x 15, Mixed Media on Watercolor Paper, 2016
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