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By age fifteen, Wendy was an accomplished artist, drawing and painting portraits, animals and the landscape with fine lined drawings and richly painted images. Art was an important part of her life for many reasons. Now in her late thirties, Wendy deals with physical and communication challenges caused by a brain stem stroke. No longer able to create art as she did before her brain injury, the Fine Arts Program offered her a vehicle to learn adaptive ways to create again. However, this journey has been a most difficult one. Initially Wendy was frustrated with the work she produced, wanting to achieve her former acuity. Gradually, with much encouragement, she invented new techniques compensating for her physical challenges and importantly, developing new attitudes allowing her to develop soulful forms of expression. Over time Wendy has returned to her passion for and enjoyment of her art. With diligence and an exploratory attitude she is now sowing the seeds for visionary and still highly accomplished work. Her journey epitomizes the reshaping of identity for those touched by traumatic brain injury. These examples show different approaches to the depiction of flowers and text, one in watercolor, the other, acrylic paint. Recent exhibitions showing her pre and post trauma work in Kingston and Ellenville, New York have given her a presence in the larger community, uplifting her spirit and growing her will to create.
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