Another one! Disabled artists are everywhere. Our local PBS station aired a documentary, \u201cMan on Fire,\u201d about Jose Clemente Orozco. He was a muralist and contemporary and rival to Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo\u2019s husband. Towards the end of his life he became more famous than Diego.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interesting aspect is how his disability affected his life. According to the video, the loss of his hand, \u201cfreed him to follow his art.\u201d It was explained, not as the inspirational tale of an overcomer, but as an explanation of the path he took.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I find it interesting that more and more media thoughtfully highlights disability. It\u2019s not always from an insiders perspective or with the best language, but like \u201cMan on Fire\u201d one aspect of the person\u2019s life without tragedy or drama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, it was explained that he was somewhat of a misanthrope, not, thankfully, because of his disability. Interestingly, and very much like myself and some of my disabled colleagues, as Orozco became more famous and gained more recognition he mellowed and became happier. Ah, the curse and craving of recognition dogs us as it does other marginalized groups as we fight for visibility in society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Another one! Disabled artists are everywhere. Our local PBS station aired a documentary, \u201cMan on Fire,\u201d about Jose Clemente Orozco. He was a muralist and contemporary and rival to Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo\u2019s husband. Towards the end of his life he became more famous than Diego. The interesting aspect is how his disability affected his […]<\/p>\n