Exhibition Of Alumnus’ Work Celebrates Anniversaries Of ADA, “King Gimp” Documentary

Press release from Towson University:

By Rebecca Kirkman on September 24, 2020

Dan Keplinger ’98, ’03, ’07 visits the exhibition of his work at Towson Town Center. “Public/Private
Conversations” spans two decades of Keplinger’s work.

Two decades ago, the Oscar-winning short documentary “King Gimp” thrust Dan Keplinger
’98, ’03, ’07 into the spotlight. Written by Keplinger, who has cerebral palsy, the
film follows the artist’s life from age 13 to his graduation from Towson University
with a bachelor’s degree.

In recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
Towson University’s Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education and Department of Occupational Therapy & Occupational Science partnered with the Towson Town Center to mount an exhibition of Keplinger’s work.

“Public/Private Conversations,” curated by art history professor J. Susan Isaacs, runs from Sept. 22 to Oct. 20
at Towson Town Center and online.

The celebration aims to engage many overlapping communities in the greater Towson
area through the exhibition and accessible events and workshops.

“We need art in our lives now more than ever before,” says Regina Carlow, dean of
the College of Fine Arts & Communication. “It helps us to reflect, brings us together,
and as in this case, amplifies a powerful perspective that connects to our shared
humanity. We’re looking forward to exploring future opportunities at Towson Town Center
for our students to shine.”

Virtual programming coordinated by the Department of Occupational Therapy & Occupational
Science and the TU Community Art Center is open to the public, highlighting adaptive solutions for participation in the arts
and awareness of inclusion and accessibility options.

A virtual screening of “King Gimp” and a panel discussion will be held on Oct. 6.

About Dan Keplinger

Learn more about TU alum Dan Keplinger.

“As a person with a disability, I do not rely on technology for communication,” says
Keplinger in his artist statement. “Instead, my art is my voice. I know my thoughts
might be hidden in my millions of words. That is why my art is not for decoration
but to start conversations.”

Keplinger, who first discovered a passion for art as a student at Parkville High School,
uses an adaptive headpiece to work in various mediums.

“Public/Private Conversations” spans two decades of the artist’s work in a range of
media, including mixed media, etching, printmaking and digital. “His works are powerful,”
says Isaacs, who taught Keplinger and worked on his MFA show in 2007. “Over time his
work has become more vocal in terms of the disability community. It shifted from being
very much autobiographical to autobiographical but with much more personal information
about his concerns.”

The exhibition came to life through collaboration and partnerships within the university
and throughout the greater Towson community.

“We are thrilled to partner with Towson University as the host of Dan Keplinger’s
incredible works of art,” says Emily Brophy, senior general manager of Towson Town
Center. “As we celebrate the anniversary of both the Americans with Disabilities Act
and the premiere of ‘King Gimp,’ we welcome our community to the center to view Dan’s
inspirational collection of work. Our hope is that the exhibition will help to broaden
the discussion surrounding the inclusion of those with disabilities.”

In addition to an accessible exhibition of Keplinger’s work hosted at Towson Town
Center, an audio-described and closed-captioned version of the exhibition and accompanying
programming was developed with support from the College of Fine Arts & Communication,
College of Health Professions, Accessibility & Disability Services (ADS), Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equity and the Office of the Provost. Additional funding was provided by BTU—Partnerships for Greater Baltimore and the Kaplan Fund.

The exhibition gives the university a chance to bring attention to a graduate that
has made an impact in the community, says Leah Cox, vice president of inclusion and
institutional equity.

“We are so excited to highlight and support a TU alum who is an incredible artist
and who reminds us that our identity shapes all of us in many wonderful ways,” Cox
says. “His voice through his art is powerful and inclusive. He is the true example
of how and why diversity enriches all of us.”

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Audio-described, closed-captioned version of “Public/Private Conversations”
Watch the video

Originally scheduled for April 2020 but postponed due to the novel coronavirus, “Public/Private
Conversations” has been reimagined to prioritize health and safety. The exhibition
and all associated programming may be experienced virtually, and the installation
at Towson Town Center flows through multiple storefront windows on the second and
fourth floors. This setup allows visitors to view the art at their own pace and facilitates
physical distancing.

Safety measures at Towson Town Center include mandatory facial coverings, hand-sanitizing stations, touch-free interactions,
frequent and intense cleanings, social distancing directions and a new filtered air
system that captures airborne viruses.

Attend an event

Learn more about art and the disability community by joining in “Public/Private Conversations”
programming:

• My Art is My Voice: “King Gimp” (1999) Documentary & ConversationTuesday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m. E.D.T.“King Gimp” (1999), an award-winning short documentary about the inclusion of children
  with disabilities, follows TU alumnus Dan Keplinger for 12 years of his life. A screening
  of the film will be followed by a conversation with Keplinger and three TU faculty
  members critical to his—and the film's—success: Greg Faller, Stuart Stein and Beth
  Haller. Filmmaker Susan Hadary will introduce the film. Email bhaller@towson.edu to arrange accessibility accommodations.
• ADA in Action: Current Student PerspectivesFriday, Oct. 9, 2 p.m. E.D.T.The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits
  discrimination based on disability. In a panel, members of Delta Alpha Pi (DAP) will
  discuss how this law from 1990 impacts students today. DAP is an honor society that
  recognizes college students with disabilities for their academic achievement and promotes
  a positive message regarding students with disabilities. Live transcription provided
  by TU ADS. Other accommodations available upon request by emailing krogan@towson.edu.
• Accessible Art: Expressive Self-PortraitsOct. 16, Facebook.com/COFAC.TUIn this family friendly workshop, create expressive self-portraits using household
  items. Dan Keplinger is known for his large, expressive portraiture. For this workshop,
  TU art education and occupational therapy students have collaborated to develop art
  activities that include full participation of youth with disabilities and to introduce
  disability awareness for participants without disabilities.
• Assistive Technology: Commercial and Custom Assistive DevicesTuesday, Oct. 13, 11 a.m. E.D.T.The custom headset used by Dan Keplinger is one example of assistive technology. In
  this workshop, music- and arts-related assistive technology created by Volunteers
  for Medical Engineering (VME) will be demonstrated. Additional resources for commercially
  available devices will be shared. Join us for this inspiring discussion on innovative
  solutions to promote the arts and technology for persons with disabilities hosted
  by TU occupational therapy students and The Image Center–VME Program Services. Email atyler@imagemd.org to arrange accessibility accommodations.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland, BTU-Partnerships at Work for Greater Baltimore and Diverse and Inclusive Campus.

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.