Process Post: In Class Project #7 and #8

My older brother, Jimmy, is significantly disabled. He has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, however the exact diagnosis of his overall complex condition remains unknown and is likely genetic. He is also medically fragile. As a result of his various diagnoses, my brother is a wheelchair user, profoundly intellectually disabled, non-verbal, and requires around the clock care in order to keep him safe. Despite his many challenges, Jimmy has a really great life and is one of the most joyful people I have ever met. He loves dance parties, music, Yo Gabba Gabba, and being around his family and friends. For this piece, I wanted to depict the stark contrast of the two sides of Jimmy: Jimmy as a patient vs. Jimmy as a person. The Jimmy as a patient side is made to represent the Jimmy that most doctors see. The Jimmy that appears to be a “challenging case” with a limited potential to have a high quality of life. The Jimmy as a person side is made to represent who Jimmy really is. He is a person who has interests, joy, and certainly a high quality of life. To depict this idea, I flattened and assembled cardboard boxes (that delivered medical supplies to Jimmy) to create sort of a canvas. Then I collaged a variety of medical papers, documents, and supplies to act as a background for the canvas. On top of that, I painted Jimmy. This painting of Jimmy depicts him playing basketball (because he CAN do things and have a high quality of life). I also chose to paint Jimmy yellow to act as a ray of sunshine/depict his joy. As I continue working on this piece, I plan to add some additional elements. For example, I want to string medical tubing around the top of the piece and I might include real photos of Jimmy towards the bottom to help further push the idea behind it.