BEAUTIFUL Stories: Art, Disability, Beauty with Glenneisha Dawkins
Glenneisha Darkins: Dismantling Perceptions of Disability & Broadening Perceptions of Beauty | Photo and Video by Breonca Trofort
When asked to write a reflection on this experience I laughed, knowing the challenge it would be to find specific words, worthy enough of expressing my experience. I walked into Glenny's room nervous, like a child starting school for the first time. That nervousness was soon transformed into inspiration.
It was such an honor and privilege to document Glenny, as she created a masterpiece in front of my lens. How could I have gotten so lucky? I've been on multiple film and movie sets but I've never met a painter comparable to a director. Her precision of where to move the canvas, whether to shift or tilt it, how much paint to mix to get the exact color she wanted, was like watching a director coordinate every crew member on set. Her attention to detail with every brush stroke, was like watching a violinist draw their bow across each string for the perfect sound. Her momentum was like a long distance runner, admirable, where breaks were only taken to clean her brush or mix the paint. I was speechless.
Her courage, strength, and wisdom is admirable and that experience has fueled me for 2016. I'm beyond blessed that my year began with this project!
-Breonca
BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY SHADE™ Lead Artist
B. Alyssa Trofort Photography
"That’s one thing I like about my life. It’s raw and real --unscripted and imperfect, but it’s also beautiful…because it’s me." -Glenneisha Dawkins
Glenneisha A. Dawkins is the author of FREEDOM CHAIR: An Open Diary of a Quadriplegic
She is a "Student, Striver, and Paints on Occassion"
Instagram: Glen.Neisha
Twitter: whoisglenny