[Applause] I’ve been thinking a lot recently about
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about our influences
our influences
our influences we’ve all had influences guide us at
we’ve all had influences guide us at
we’ve all had influences guide us at some point decades of guidance from our
some point decades of guidance from our
some point decades of guidance from our parents maybe the momentary insight from
parents maybe the momentary insight from
parents maybe the momentary insight from visitors I’m at a point in my career
visitors I’m at a point in my career
visitors I’m at a point in my career where I find myself surrounded by people
where I find myself surrounded by people
where I find myself surrounded by people I find inspirational an activist from
I find inspirational an activist from
I find inspirational an activist from Mexico an artist from New York City a
Mexico an artist from New York City a
Mexico an artist from New York City a philosopher from Holland I’d like to
philosopher from Holland I’d like to
philosopher from Holland I’d like to share with you more about their
share with you more about their
share with you more about their inspirations but first I’d like to go
inspirations but first I’d like to go
inspirations but first I’d like to go back a bit – my initial inspirations
back a bit – my initial inspirations
back a bit – my initial inspirations 19th century explorers when I was a
19th century explorers when I was a
19th century explorers when I was a teenager I copied journeys by way of
teenager I copied journeys by way of
teenager I copied journeys by way of Xerox and I provided myself with light
Xerox and I provided myself with light
Xerox and I provided myself with light tones and dark tones and from this
tones and dark tones and from this
tones and dark tones and from this palette of maps I would create portraits
palette of maps I would create portraits
palette of maps I would create portraits of the explorers who gave us these maps
of the explorers who gave us these maps
of the explorers who gave us these maps David Livingstone North Pole Explorer
David Livingstone North Pole Explorer
David Livingstone North Pole Explorer commander Perry South Pole Explorer
commander Perry South Pole Explorer
commander Perry South Pole Explorer Robert Falcon Scott in total I had eight
Robert Falcon Scott in total I had eight
Robert Falcon Scott in total I had eight explorers and when my undergraduate show
explorers and when my undergraduate show
explorers and when my undergraduate show came down they all folded up neatly and
came down they all folded up neatly and
came down they all folded up neatly and fit in the glove compartment of my VW
fit in the glove compartment of my VW
fit in the glove compartment of my VW Microbus
it was the power of the person in the
it was the power of the person in the pathways they took that drew me in and
pathways they took that drew me in and
pathways they took that drew me in and so I have to talk about two more people
so I have to talk about two more people
so I have to talk about two more people two pioneers from this earlier era
two pioneers from this earlier era
two pioneers from this earlier era before I move on
before I move on
before I move on scientists George Charles Guillen and
scientists George Charles Guillen and
scientists George Charles Guillen and Jane Alexander at Ballet in 1916 they
Jane Alexander at Ballet in 1916 they
Jane Alexander at Ballet in 1916 they diagnosed two soldiers who had similar
diagnosed two soldiers who had similar
diagnosed two soldiers who had similar key syndromes involving Albu Saito
key syndromes involving Albu Saito
key syndromes involving Albu Saito excuse me alla beYOU psychological
excuse me alla beYOU psychological
excuse me alla beYOU psychological disassociation let me explain to you
disassociation let me explain to you
disassociation let me explain to you what that means by way of my own
what that means by way of my own
what that means by way of my own experiences years ago I was talking to
experiences years ago I was talking to
experiences years ago I was talking to someone and I had trouble snapping my
someone and I had trouble snapping my
someone and I had trouble snapping my fingers
I couldn’t produce enough grip strength
I couldn’t produce enough grip strength to create tension to create a snap and
to create tension to create a snap and
to create tension to create a snap and strike my fingers against each other so
strike my fingers against each other so
strike my fingers against each other so if you’ll do this with me I’m going to
if you’ll do this with me I’m going to
if you’ll do this with me I’m going to count three one two three and we’ll snap
count three one two three and we’ll snap
count three one two three and we’ll snap three times as loud as you can
three times as loud as you can
three times as loud as you can one two three now once see if you can do
one two three now once see if you can do
one two three now once see if you can do that softly without making a sound that
that softly without making a sound that
that softly without making a sound that sensation is the sensation I had at
sensation is the sensation I had at
sensation is the sensation I had at maximum strength and the next day I had
maximum strength and the next day I had
maximum strength and the next day I had that same sensation in my legs I
that same sensation in my legs I
that same sensation in my legs I couldn’t walk well the next step was to
couldn’t walk well the next step was to
couldn’t walk well the next step was to be taken to the emergency room
be taken to the emergency room
be taken to the emergency room I had Gyan brace syndrome what happens
I had Gyan brace syndrome what happens
I had Gyan brace syndrome what happens in guillain-barre syndrome is your brain
in guillain-barre syndrome is your brain
in guillain-barre syndrome is your brain is trying to communicate signals to your
is trying to communicate signals to your
is trying to communicate signals to your major muscle groups but because of an
major muscle groups but because of an
major muscle groups but because of an inflammation and neural tissue the
inflammation and neural tissue the
inflammation and neural tissue the signals don’t come quite through and you
signals don’t come quite through and you
signals don’t come quite through and you have diminished function I was becoming
have diminished function I was becoming
have diminished function I was becoming paralyzed in essence first your limbs go
paralyzed in essence first your limbs go
paralyzed in essence first your limbs go and then the muscles around your lungs
and then the muscles around your lungs
and then the muscles around your lungs and ultimately the heart now I plateaued
and ultimately the heart now I plateaued
and ultimately the heart now I plateaued before getting to that spot in fact
before getting to that spot in fact
before getting to that spot in fact after five days of being in the
after five days of being in the
after five days of being in the emergency room I was declared good
emergency room I was declared good
emergency room I was declared good enough to be an outpatient and I could
enough to be an outpatient and I could
enough to be an outpatient and I could go home for the next few months remember
go home for the next few months remember
go home for the next few months remember when I got out of that hospital stepping
when I got out of that hospital stepping
when I got out of that hospital stepping down the steps and I just remember
down the steps and I just remember
down the steps and I just remember bending down and clutching grass and
bending down and clutching grass and
bending down and clutching grass and ripping it out of the ground and the
ripping it out of the ground and the
ripping it out of the ground and the feeling of those blades of grass going
feeling of those blades of grass going
feeling of those blades of grass going through my fingers it was an incredible
through my fingers it was an incredible
through my fingers it was an incredible feeling and I realized right then that
feeling and I realized right then that
feeling and I realized right then that to be able to grip something to be able
to be able to grip something to be able
to be able to grip something to be able to grasp or grab anything an object I
to grasp or grab anything an object I
to grasp or grab anything an object I knew that if I could grab an object and
knew that if I could grab an object and
knew that if I could grab an object and if I could grab an opportunity and I
if I could grab an opportunity and I
if I could grab an opportunity and I just got out of the hospital so I could
just got out of the hospital so I could
just got out of the hospital so I could do anything
do anything
do anything things are different now I knew that I
things are different now I knew that I
things are different now I knew that I can make some impact in the world on
can make some impact in the world on
can make some impact in the world on some level some small level of fur
some level some small level of fur
some level some small level of fur perhaps so this became my determination
perhaps so this became my determination
perhaps so this became my determination the doctors did say that the more I
the doctors did say that the more I
the doctors did say that the more I pushed myself the speedier my recovery
pushed myself the speedier my recovery
pushed myself the speedier my recovery would be so I decided to enter a frisbee
would be so I decided to enter a frisbee
would be so I decided to enter a frisbee golf competition after all I’ve been a
golf competition after all I’ve been a
golf competition after all I’ve been a professional at the time for a quarter
professional at the time for a quarter
professional at the time for a quarter of a century so I know that I can throw
of a century so I know that I can throw
of a century so I know that I can throw a frisbee 400 feet and then I know I
a frisbee 400 feet and then I know I
a frisbee 400 feet and then I know I could measure my rate of improvement now
could measure my rate of improvement now
could measure my rate of improvement now in the tournament I could let go at sort
in the tournament I could let go at sort
in the tournament I could let go at sort of a strategic time but it wasn’t really
of a strategic time but it wasn’t really
of a strategic time but it wasn’t really throwing it wasn’t really like as we say
throwing it wasn’t really like as we say
throwing it wasn’t really like as we say in the industry I couldn’t grip it and
in the industry I couldn’t grip it and
in the industry I couldn’t grip it and rip it so it taught me a lot about what
rip it so it taught me a lot about what
rip it so it taught me a lot about what I can’t do and what I can do I decided
I can’t do and what I can do I decided
I can’t do and what I can do I decided that I would embark on working with
that I would embark on working with
that I would embark on working with medical institutions to make artwork
medical institutions to make artwork
medical institutions to make artwork about my experiences I worked with
about my experiences I worked with
about my experiences I worked with prosthetics and orthotics centers I
prosthetics and orthotics centers I
prosthetics and orthotics centers I worked with bio nano engineering centers
worked with bio nano engineering centers
worked with bio nano engineering centers and through a lot of research and
and through a lot of research and
and through a lot of research and collaboration I mounted a solo
collaboration I mounted a solo
collaboration I mounted a solo exhibition in New York called cloning
exhibition in New York called cloning
exhibition in New York called cloning zoning and the shared tiara and of all
zoning and the shared tiara and of all
zoning and the shared tiara and of all 27 works that spoke about body ability
27 works that spoke about body ability
27 works that spoke about body ability and enhancement I’m just going to share
and enhancement I’m just going to share
and enhancement I’m just going to share with you two one that involves an arm
with you two one that involves an arm
with you two one that involves an arm and an armadillo and one that involves a
and an armadillo and one that involves a
and an armadillo and one that involves a curious skeleton the armadillo who only
curious skeleton the armadillo who only
curious skeleton the armadillo who only gives birth to quadruplets every single
gives birth to quadruplets every single
gives birth to quadruplets every single time references cloning it also fits in
time references cloning it also fits in
time references cloning it also fits in nicely with an arbor like constructed
nicely with an arbor like constructed
nicely with an arbor like constructed arm I made for work discussing Henrietta
arm I made for work discussing Henrietta
arm I made for work discussing Henrietta Lacks who sells founded an immortal line
Lacks who sells founded an immortal line
Lacks who sells founded an immortal line of cells that are found all over this
of cells that are found all over this
of cells that are found all over this armor-like constructed arm purely
armor-like constructed arm purely
armor-like constructed arm purely durable it was so secret that I had to
durable it was so secret that I had to
durable it was so secret that I had to sign a nondisclosure agreement just to
sign a nondisclosure agreement just to
sign a nondisclosure agreement just to use in fact I literally had to wear a
use in fact I literally had to wear a
use in fact I literally had to wear a black bag over my head when they drove
black bag over my head when they drove
black bag over my head when they drove me to the lab the delicate yin to this
me to the lab the delicate yin to this
me to the lab the delicate yin to this durable gang was a sweet smelling
durable gang was a sweet smelling
durable gang was a sweet smelling chocolate skeleton that referenced how
chocolate skeleton that referenced how
chocolate skeleton that referenced how precious our
precious our
precious our our selves are but also the same time
our selves are but also the same time
our selves are but also the same time not as of the fact that one day our very
not as of the fact that one day our very
not as of the fact that one day our very bones might be constructed ordered and
bones might be constructed ordered and
bones might be constructed ordered and sold in vending machines now the entire
sold in vending machines now the entire
sold in vending machines now the entire show spoke of the science but it didn’t
show spoke of the science but it didn’t
show spoke of the science but it didn’t speak of the scientists and I grew to be
speak of the scientists and I grew to be
speak of the scientists and I grew to be more intrigued by highlighting and
more intrigued by highlighting and
more intrigued by highlighting and celebrating personalities as fate would
celebrating personalities as fate would
celebrating personalities as fate would have it I was invited to mount an
have it I was invited to mount an
have it I was invited to mount an exhibition that was a retrospective of
exhibition that was a retrospective of
exhibition that was a retrospective of the original 19th century explorers and
the original 19th century explorers and
the original 19th century explorers and as luck would have it at the opening
as luck would have it at the opening
as luck would have it at the opening right on my phone I showed someone next
right on my phone I showed someone next
right on my phone I showed someone next to me a brand new body of work that I
to me a brand new body of work that I
to me a brand new body of work that I was working on it turned out that they
was working on it turned out that they
was working on it turned out that they loved the work and they offered me to
loved the work and they offered me to
loved the work and they offered me to reproduce one of these works on a scale
reproduce one of these works on a scale
reproduce one of these works on a scale of a hundred and thirty feet wide on the
of a hundred and thirty feet wide on the
of a hundred and thirty feet wide on the side of a building a mural this is what
side of a building a mural this is what
side of a building a mural this is what led me to local resident and
led me to local resident and
led me to local resident and international sensation page.you Shen
international sensation page.you Shen
international sensation page.you Shen Pot the preliminary shoot proved that
Pot the preliminary shoot proved that
Pot the preliminary shoot proved that mere documentary of this mural as she
mere documentary of this mural as she
mere documentary of this mural as she was jumping in the air should quickly go
was jumping in the air should quickly go
was jumping in the air should quickly go to something more dynamic and distinct I
to something more dynamic and distinct I
to something more dynamic and distinct I knew that I was in the presence of true
knew that I was in the presence of true
knew that I was in the presence of true genius so I popped my camera off of the
genius so I popped my camera off of the
genius so I popped my camera off of the tripod and I quickly moved in and I
tripod and I quickly moved in and I
tripod and I quickly moved in and I started taking portraits of her as she
started taking portraits of her as she
started taking portraits of her as she was dancing it was if I was dancing with
was dancing it was if I was dancing with
was dancing it was if I was dancing with her because I had to get that close and
her because I had to get that close and
her because I had to get that close and I was firing away this stuff held nicely
I was firing away this stuff held nicely
I was firing away this stuff held nicely with a side project that I was working
with a side project that I was working
with a side project that I was working on that was now coming to the fore when
on that was now coming to the fore when
on that was now coming to the fore when I was highlighting individuals who I
I was highlighting individuals who I
I was highlighting individuals who I find inspiring by direct portraiture and
find inspiring by direct portraiture and
find inspiring by direct portraiture and handheld objects these are some of the
handheld objects these are some of the
handheld objects these are some of the inspirations I spoke of at the top I
inspirations I spoke of at the top I
inspirations I spoke of at the top I photographed a teenage activist who Good
photographed a teenage activist who Good
photographed a teenage activist who Good Morning America covered for her work
Morning America covered for her work
Morning America covered for her work with the gay lesbian straight educators
with the gay lesbian straight educators
with the gay lesbian straight educators Network I photographed a career
Network I photographed a career
Network I photographed a career illustrator whose original colored
illustrator whose original colored
illustrator whose original colored pencil drawing of the Pegasus is seen
pencil drawing of the Pegasus is seen
pencil drawing of the Pegasus is seen all over the entertainment industry I
all over the entertainment industry I
all over the entertainment industry I photographed nationally syndicated radio
photographed nationally syndicated radio
photographed nationally syndicated radio show program hosts I photographed
show program hosts I photographed
show program hosts I photographed internationally recognized
internationally recognized
internationally recognized artists and filmmakers and philosophers
artists and filmmakers and philosophers
artists and filmmakers and philosophers and craftspeople and I photographed
and craftspeople and I photographed
and craftspeople and I photographed former tallest teen girl in the world
people whose presence and voice and
people whose presence and voice and actions positively impacted the world
actions positively impacted the world
actions positively impacted the world now I’ve been in green rooms and I’ve
now I’ve been in green rooms and I’ve
now I’ve been in green rooms and I’ve been in grey rooms and I’ve been working
been in grey rooms and I’ve been working
been in grey rooms and I’ve been working with people who have worked in the Oval
with people who have worked in the Oval
with people who have worked in the Oval Office and corner offices and people
Office and corner offices and people
Office and corner offices and people from different backgrounds and different
from different backgrounds and different
from different backgrounds and different ethnicities and different origins all
ethnicities and different origins all
ethnicities and different origins all seem to tell me the same story at least
seem to tell me the same story at least
seem to tell me the same story at least I feel there’s a threat of consistency
I feel there’s a threat of consistency
I feel there’s a threat of consistency in their stories where it seems that
in their stories where it seems that
in their stories where it seems that anyone from any age any size and in any
anyone from any age any size and in any
anyone from any age any size and in any skin if they can grab an object any
skin if they can grab an object any
skin if they can grab an object any object and they can grab an opportunity
object and they can grab an opportunity
object and they can grab an opportunity and have an idea and have a passion then
and have an idea and have a passion then
and have an idea and have a passion then they can make a change and impact in a
they can make a change and impact in a
they can make a change and impact in a positive way in the world I’ve seen it
positive way in the world I’ve seen it
positive way in the world I’ve seen it happen this seed of greatness as a
happen this seed of greatness as a
happen this seed of greatness as a portraitist I’ve seen it in the eyes of
portraitist I’ve seen it in the eyes of
portraitist I’ve seen it in the eyes of people that have dedicated their lives
people that have dedicated their lives
people that have dedicated their lives to realizing successfully their dreams
to realizing successfully their dreams
to realizing successfully their dreams and goals and as an educator I’ve seen
and goals and as an educator I’ve seen
and goals and as an educator I’ve seen it in the spark of a young student who
it in the spark of a young student who
it in the spark of a young student who just realized something brand-new it can
just realized something brand-new it can
just realized something brand-new it can happen with anyone and it can happen as
happen with anyone and it can happen as
happen with anyone and it can happen as quickly as this thank you
quickly as this thank you
quickly as this thank you [Applause]
”
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