Thu, Nov 26 2009
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THE HANDS OF AN ARTIST Quadriplegic artist uses head to create digital art Star BeaconThe acquisition of a more powerful computer and a copy of Photoshop allowed him to experiment with layers, gradients and other elements of computer art. In time, he was creating complex designs and planetary landscapes that recall the lovely colors of the sky on that fateful June evening.
Kevin calls it "Acid Art" because it is colorful and suggestive of the hallucinogenic art of the 1960s. Despite the complexity and quality of the work he was producing, it never ventured beyond his west wing room. Sometimes, due to the second-hand nature and unreliability of the equipment the state provided, his art vanished, the victim of a hard drive crash. Kevin persisted, an artist without an audience. The lone exception was five years ago, when he teamed up with another artist for a two-man show in Cleveland. "Who looks into a nursing facility for artists?" says Kevin. "Nobody, realistically. They look at a nursing facility as a place to put people for their last go-around." First exhibit Don and Karen Densmore of Perry changed that. Karen met Kevin through a friend at Cornerstone Friends Church in Madison. Don took a personal interest in Kevin's art and got involved in printing, preserving and promoting it. "It's been pretty expensive to meet Kevin," says Don with a laugh. "We've done what we can to help him." His assistance includes building a device that allows Kevin to use his right elbow to activate switches that mimic the action of the left and right buttons on a computer mouse. The large pressure points on the device have greatly increased Kevin's productivity. Don also cataloged and archived Kevin's work on an off-site hard drive, made photo prints from the files, placed the work in retail establishments and entered it in area art shows. Kevin's "Flower Patch" took the Patron's Choice award at the Rabbit Run Art Show, held last month. His work "Melting Pot" took second place. He displayed his work at the Willoughby Artsfest and sold five pieces there. Don Densmore says he has cataloged at least 240 images created by Kevin. The images can be printed on demand, with orders placed through a Web site, www.donsphotos.com/kevinwhite/. "I wouldn't be out there doing what I'm doing now if it were not for them," Kevin says. "They have been friends, a help to me." Don has also been involved in helping Kevin accomplish his goal of holding a one-man show. At the invitation of Meeghan Humphrey, visual arts coordinator for the Ashtabula Arts Center, Kevin will hold his first exhibit at the center this month. The exhibit opens with an artist reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday. Kevin hopes this is the break he's been waiting for. "I'm jumping for joy," he says. "This gives me the opportunity to show people there is an artist in here. Even though I'm not up and about and walking around, I'm still doing what I'm doing, just in a different way." 
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