Stirling Art Studios in Dunedin says it doesn’t matter who walks through their door. They are proud to give artists of all different backgrounds and abilities a platform to show off their talents.
“I have Ehlers-Danlos; it’s a collagen disorder; it affects all the joints in the body,” said artist Loren Marie Petroccia.
“I have acquired a traumatic brain injury and Hemiparesis. I have right-sided weakness,” said artist Kristin Karcher.
“I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s five and a half years ago,” said artist Woody Goodell.
“Alex has a condition called cerebral palsy. It’s a neurological disorder,” said VaCelia Koumendouros, Alex’s mom.
For Alex, Loren, Kristin and Woody, painting isn’t just a hobby; it’s an escape from the challenges of everyday life.
“What I found is when I am painting, for whatever session, two or three hours, during that time period, I do not have Parkinson’s; all my symptoms just seem to go away and vanish,” said Goodell.
“He loves it. It’s a way to express himself,” said Koumendouros.