ACC Art Project Showcased at International Assistive Technology Conference

Artists in wheelchairs beamed, sitting beside artwork they created. The wheelchairs could no longer present an obstacle to the artists, but instead served as tools to help these individuals set their creativity free.

Through the “Accessing the Artist Within” project, a large-scale artistic endeavor created by the Anne Carlsen Center, these artists were attending an international assistive technology conference in Minneapolis, Minn., called “Closing the Gap”. At an artists’ reception prior to the start of the conference, the artists displayed their art, and answered questions about how it was created.

“When we started this, it was a shot in the dark,” said Mark Coppin, the Anne Carlsen Center’s Assistive Technology Director and the driving force behind the project. “We had an idea of what we wanted to do, but we didn’t know how it would be carried out. We had an inkling there would be interest, but we didn’t know how much there would be.”

The 28th annual “Closing the Gap” conference shared the latest strategies and ideas in the world of assistive technology from Oct. 21-23.

This past spring, Coppin created a Web site with an online art gallery to promote the art and the artists to a world-wide audience. Artists from across the nation responded, sending electronic copies of their artwork to the site.

At a reception on Friday, Oct. 16, two North Dakota artists met with four artists from the Twin Cities. This public reception would also highlight how the adaptive equipment can be used to create art.

North Dakota artist Michelle Bergstedt and her father, Dave, demonstrate how adaptive art equipment can attach to a wheelchair and produce unique, vivid art.

Wimbledon, N.D., resident Michelle Bergstedt traveled to the reception with her parents after “Closing the Gap” awarded the family scholarships to attend. Along with taking part in the art demonstration, the family attended educational sessions, learning about computer software and ways for Michelle to become more independent. But the highlight for Michelle was having her artwork on display at the reception.

“We had a lot of people in the vendor hall say they were interested and wanted to see the presentation, but I didn’t know if we would have 10 or 100 hundred people attend,” said Coppin, who estimated over 500 attended the reception. “I never thought there would be that many people attending the event. When we started the presentation with the artists, people were two and three deep watching the rollers on the wheelchairs create art. The activity drew the participants and other people into the event.”

Each artist cut a pattern into foam that was then wrapped around a drum connected to a frame that connected to the front of the artist’s wheelchair. Paint was fed onto the roller by a tray. The adapted art equipment was created by Duane Szot, an artist from Wisconsin.

“The reception was so much fun,” said Michelle’s mom, Barb. “People were clapping and Michelle was in seventh heaven and eating all the attention up. By the time it was done, it was a colorful jumble of designs.”

Former Minnesota Viking great Joey Browner attended the conference, and when he saw how the artwork was created, he asked to have a purple and yellow piece commissioned.

“The questions that you raise are answered when you see the process and the technology that goes into the creation of the art.,” said Browner. “Through this conference, many of these individuals will have an opportunity to view art and could auction pieces off.”

Submissions for the “Accessing the Artist Within” project can fall under a variety of categories: paintings, drawings, photography, digital art, video, film, and musical compositions

“It is an excellent conference,” said Barb. “We are really appreciative of ‘Closing the Gap’ sponsoring us, and for Mark, who took the time to put it all together.”

While the scope of “Accessing the Artist Within” will continue to grow, the focus will continue to be on the artists and showcasing their creativity. Coppin hopes the project will be able to offer more scholarships for artists in future years, and he plans to continually add to the online art gallery.

“Our intention all along was to continue the Web site, no matter the turnout we had,” said Coppin. “The artists were so excited and happy to see their artwork displayed in an online gallery. Because of the success of the art display at ‘Closing the Gap’ and the huge success of the artist reception, we have already been asked to come back next year and set up the display again.”

“This project breaks the boundaries of having to be able to use your hands and use cognitive function to make a beautiful piece of art,” said Browner. “It shows an artist’s ability to adjust to the world they are in and to express the world they are in with that painting or that artwork. There is a whole different expression to it.”

More information about “Accessing the Artist Within” can be found at www.annecenter.org. You can find information about the “Closing the Gap” conference and assistive technology at www.closingthegap.com.