            It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped. - Hubert H. Humphrey The goal of The Shadows Project is to bring awareness to the Minnesota public about the challenges and successes in recent years when it comes to the inclusion of people living with disabilities. I will spend a period of time with a person with a mild to severe disability (partner) to gain an understanding of their interaction with their community. Depending on the relationship developed with the partner, our time together can range from one day up to a week or more. During my research I will interview the partner, their family, and community members they interact with. I will also capture images that represent my partner’s physical environment. Observational notes and photography will be used to document my partner’s interaction with their environment. The
result of the time with my partner will have three outcomes.
One: A personal relationship formed between us. Two: A short
biography of my partner and their community interaction.
Three: An 8’ x 16’ painting showing my interpretation
of my partner’s interaction with their community and the
opportunity to raise awareness of the unique way people with
disabilities interact with their community through
exhibition of the work at my studio, on my website, and future public
exhibition.
The scale of the paintings is important because it seemingly
allows the viewer to walk into the setting I have illustrated. |