Art Show Opens For Parkville Man With Cerebral Palsy
TOWSON (WJZ) -- When you see someone with problems larger than your own, it's natural to appreciate what you do have.
Mike Schuh visits with a man who's life centers around what he can do, not what he can't.
It's not easy to watch Dan Keplinger struggle with life's simple chores.
It's also very difficult to understand what he's saying, but luckily he has another way to communicate.
"Expressing myself. It's a drive to keep expressing myself," Keplinger said.
The voice you heard is his former intern and now assistant, Brianna Pleasant.
He knows it's easier on everyone when she interprets.
If he seems familiar, you may know Dan by his nickname -- King Gimp.
In 2000, two Baltimore filmmakers -- Susannah Hanna Hadari and William Whiteford -- chronicled the life of a boy from Parkville with cerebral palsy. That boy's neighbors named him King Gimp.
A boy who found art, which led to a fine arts degree at Towson. As a man, art -- while a passion -- is now his career.
He puts so much effort into it, his knees rip through his pants.
A show of his work just opened in downtown Towson.
In addition to being an artist, he now teaches and mentors.
"So he thinks it's crazy that students email him about doing papers about him because you'd think they'd want to do Picasso or something,"
The artist who created this wrote saying Dan's life is the inspiration that allowed him to create.
"I think everyone can be a hero because everybody has something to overcome," Kiplinger said through an interpreter.
We see Dan's differences but what he sees is what draws us in.
Art is a way to bring people together.
Dan's exhibit is available to see at the Towson Arts Collective Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment. Call (410) 916-6340 for more information.
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