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Artist Statement:
I was born with a rare muscle
& joint condition called
Arthrogryposis Multiplex
Congenita. Say THAT five
times fast!
The explanation is far simpler
than that scary title. For one
reason or another (there is no
known cause) my muscles and
joints never fully developed
while in utero. I have pretty
limited use of my upper limbs,
so I type, paint and do most
other daily tasks, using my
mouth the way you would use
your hands. I'm fiercely
independent. I live alone,
despite the obstacles, and
love having my own place. What
I may lack in stature I make
up for in spirit!
At the age of eight I was
adopted into a huge family. I
am one of fourteen adopted
children. Six of us were born
with physical disabilities,
including myself. My parents
taught us that disability was
a challenge, nothing more. It
was evident at an early age
that I had a quick mind. I was
'mainstreamed' in the public
school system as early as
preschool, while living with
my first foster family.
Apparently I was speaking long
before my identical twin
sister, who was able-bodied.
This is a newly discovered
detail, which I found as ...
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
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Artist Reviews:
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Collections:
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Commissions:
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Erica Barker Biography:
| Biographical information for Erica Barker can be found below. The artist may choose what information to display. Sometimes the artist chooses not to display personal information to the general public. |
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Age
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33
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| Gender |
Female
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| Status |
not provided
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| Children |
99
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| Religion |
not provided |
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| Education |
not provided |
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| Hobbies / Interests |
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| Favorite Artistic Medium |
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| Favorite Arthistory Movement |
not provided
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| Favorite Visual Artist |
not provided
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| Favorite Work of Art |
not provided
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| Biggest Artistic Inspiration |
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| Why Did You Become An Artist |
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| Your Personal Biography |
I was born with a rare muscle & joint condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita. Say THAT five times fast!
The explanation is far simpler than that scary title. For one reason or another (there is no known cause) my muscles and joints never fully developed while in utero. I have pretty limited use of my upper limbs, so I type, paint and do most other daily tasks, using my mouth the way you would use your hands. I'm fiercely independent. I live alone, despite the obstacles, and love having my own place. What I may lack in stature I make up for in spirit!
At the age of eight I was adopted into a huge family. I am one of fourteen adopted children. Six of us were born with physical disabilities, including myself. My parents taught us that disability was a challenge, nothing more. It was evident at an early age that I had a quick mind. I was 'mainstreamed' in the public school system as early as preschool, while living with my first foster family.
Apparently I was speaking long before my identical twin sister, who was able-bodied. This is a newly discovered detail, which I found as my birth mother, along with my two other sisters, and I, developed a wonderful relationship over the past two years.
With life you have to take the good with the bad, and so on Halloween 2003 I lost my adoptive mother to murder and just over a year later, lost my twin to suicide. Most recently, I lost my adoptive father on April 20, 2008. All these times in my life fuel the fire for how my art work is created. My artwork for much of my young existence was more of a lifeline. It was a way to work through some painful events in my life. Over time I have recognized that my more recent work is a reflection of what I've learned through those experiences. Painful experiences can make you or brake you. These experiences have been instrumental in making me a humble, strong willed, creative, and compassionate person.
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