The Arc New York 2024 Art Competition
First Place – Rachel Paz, The Arc Lexington (Fulton, Schoharie) – “Dandelion”
Third Place – Richard Clark, Advocacy & Resource Center (Clinton) – “Reflection on America”
Richard Clark is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor. He has an incredible story of faith, hope, and love. Richard is a writer, photographer, and public speaker. He advocates for the prevention of TBI. He gives talks and publishes his writings on spirituality, bravery, and recovery. His photos, speeches, and stories uniquely represent the way Rick thinks and sees the world. His publication, Sudden Impact, is provided free of charge by Rick to increase awareness of TBI. On a beautiful day on October 27, 1970, 15-year old Rick was struck by an impaired driver while riding his motorcycle. Although Rick was wearing a helmet, he was severely injured in the crash. Pronounced dead at the scene, two inhalation therapists just happened to take an alternative route on their way home after work and came upon the horrific accident. They kept Rick alive. While in a coma for six months, his mother, Alice Clark, never left his side. Since institutionalization seemed to be the only option for Rick in 1970, his mother took him home. They would work together to make Rick better. Alice devoted the rest of her life to Rick. Together they pioneered TBI awareness, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. They documented Rick’s recovery by writing a book called “No Horns, No Trumpets.” Rick lives independently today and enjoys delivering his message of hope and awareness to audiences throughout the year.
Rachael attends Transitions, a post- secondary program that supports young adults with learning differences in their next steps after high school. She is a passionate student with a deep love for artistic expression and photography. With a keen eye for detail and a creative approach, she has honed her skills across various art forms. Driven by a desire to share knowledge and inspire others, Rachael aims to pursue a career as an art instructor, where she can nurture the next generation of artists and photographers. Second Place – Bianca Kosnick-Ordway, Coarc (Columbia) – “Sunset”
18
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker