Dan Keplinger, freelance artist and subject of the Oscar-winning documentary film King Gimp, addressed a full crowd in the Fillius Events Barn on Sept. 22. At the start of the lecture, he asked the audience to consider whether the importance of art lies solely in the final product, or if the process of creating it is part of its value. After hearing Keplinger's story, the relevance of this question became clear.
While he has received both critical and monetary success for his artwork, his finished pieces are only one segment; both the journey to achieve recognition and the subsequent opportunities are inseparable from the artwork itself. Born with cerebral palsy, he struggled to be recognized as an intelligent, talented student until age 16, when he insisted upon a transfer from a special education program to a public school system. It was there that Keplinger began exploring art as a way to express himself; largely isolated from social interactions, painting became his primary method of conveying his emotions. Upon his graduation, he enrolled in Towson University, where he received a bachelor's degree in mass communications, as well as a bachelor's and master's degree in art.
Keplinger's primary message to Hamilton students on Monday night concerned the pursuit of passion and the importance of finding effective methods of communication. "Art is my passion," he explained. "The secret of life is to have passion. If you have a passion in life it's the same thing as having a goal, but even more important; you'd do anything to make it happen." He attributes his artistic success to this dedication, explaining that he feels continually inspired to take his work to the next level.
Yet Keplinger emphasized that while his artwork is personally fulfilling, he does not view it as a solitary activity. His life has been characterized by a struggle to communicate within society; painting signifies his discovery of an effective means to do so. His condition renders it difficult to clearly enunciate his speech; he is accompanied by a translator (his fiancée) and/or computer assistance at public events. However, he feels that these methods are severely limited; they may articulate his words, but his personality is lost in the translation. It wasn't until he began painting that his inner self was presented and better understood by a broad social spectrum.
Today, Keplinger hopes to spread the importance of communication and human connection. "If you saw me on the street," he states, "you'd see the [wheel]chair before the person." Art became his method of forcing society to recognize the humanity and intellect within; he hopes to one day begin a nonprofit organization that allows disabled youths the opportunity to do the same by "creatively expressing themselves with the least amount of assistance." Susan Hadary and Bill Whiteford, producers of the documentary King Gimp, still collect footage of Keplinger's life, as both his personal and professional accomplishments continue to inspire others to pursue their passion and embrace alternative means of communication. "We need to put you in jail, so we can stop filming," they recently joked to Keplinger. "Then, we'll finally have an end to your story."
-- by Sarah Caney '09
While he has received both critical and monetary success for his artwork, his finished pieces are only one segment; both the journey to achieve recognition and the subsequent opportunities are inseparable from the artwork itself. Born with cerebral palsy, he struggled to be recognized as an intelligent, talented student until age 16, when he insisted upon a transfer from a special education program to a public school system. It was there that Keplinger began exploring art as a way to express himself; largely isolated from social interactions, painting became his primary method of conveying his emotions. Upon his graduation, he enrolled in Towson University, where he received a bachelor's degree in mass communications, as well as a bachelor's and master's degree in art.
Keplinger's primary message to Hamilton students on Monday night concerned the pursuit of passion and the importance of finding effective methods of communication. "Art is my passion," he explained. "The secret of life is to have passion. If you have a passion in life it's the same thing as having a goal, but even more important; you'd do anything to make it happen." He attributes his artistic success to this dedication, explaining that he feels continually inspired to take his work to the next level.
Yet Keplinger emphasized that while his artwork is personally fulfilling, he does not view it as a solitary activity. His life has been characterized by a struggle to communicate within society; painting signifies his discovery of an effective means to do so. His condition renders it difficult to clearly enunciate his speech; he is accompanied by a translator (his fiancée) and/or computer assistance at public events. However, he feels that these methods are severely limited; they may articulate his words, but his personality is lost in the translation. It wasn't until he began painting that his inner self was presented and better understood by a broad social spectrum.
Today, Keplinger hopes to spread the importance of communication and human connection. "If you saw me on the street," he states, "you'd see the [wheel]chair before the person." Art became his method of forcing society to recognize the humanity and intellect within; he hopes to one day begin a nonprofit organization that allows disabled youths the opportunity to do the same by "creatively expressing themselves with the least amount of assistance." Susan Hadary and Bill Whiteford, producers of the documentary King Gimp, still collect footage of Keplinger's life, as both his personal and professional accomplishments continue to inspire others to pursue their passion and embrace alternative means of communication. "We need to put you in jail, so we can stop filming," they recently joked to Keplinger. "Then, we'll finally have an end to your story."
-- by Sarah Caney '09
