Arts

Horkey tattoos orthotic brace for young child

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:42:13 GMT

Dan Horkey, Founder of Global Tattoo Orthotic Prosthetic Innovations (GTOPI) in Port Orchard, recently completed a biomechanical design empowering young child, Maddox, from Denver, Colo.

Five year old Maddox, wears an assistive knee ankle foot orthotic leg brace after he was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis when he was two. Maddox’s mother said, “I want to be pro-active and ward off any potential negative comments from the children. As his mother and biggest fan, I promised Maddox that when the time came for him to start kindergarten that he would have the ‘coolest’ brace there ever was. My goal is for others not to necessarily see the brace but the artwork that is on the brace. If he is to receive any attention, I want it to be positive.”

Colorado Teen Wins Otto Bock Socket Art Contest

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:53:09 GMT

13-year old credits the men and women of the U.S. military
as her inspiration

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Cali Overcast of Fountain, Colorado, was only four years old when the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place, but she’s never forgotten the impact it had on her young life.

“I remember how bad I felt that all of those people had died and gotten hurt, so from then on I decided to support our country and the men and women fighting to protect it,” said Cali. “My first leg brace I got later that year, I put an American flag on it.”

As Cali explains in her winning Otto Bock Socket Art Contest essay, she was born with a type of dwarfism called Ollier’s that affected the growth of her left leg and has so far required fourteen surgeries. She’s also survived spinal meningitis, but a staph infection (MRSA) required the amputation of her leg when she was just nine years old.

“When I woke up, I remember how I thought about how was I going to deal with this, how kids were going to accept me, if I could have a normal life and be accepted. Then I remembered something my Mom always told me, that there is always someone dealing with something worse. My first thought was the soldiers and how some of them were getting their arms and legs blown off by bombs and being shot at constantly.”

Cali’s winning socket art has a camouflage background and military logos on the front and a red, white and blue eagle below. Her description continues:
“On one side it has Bravery on the top because the military has to be very brave to do what they do, then a butterfly for all of the troops we have lost. Below that is Love, I love the soldiers and they have to love their country to give their life for it and to protect it. On the other side there is a support ribbon, below that is a guardian angel, because the troops are our guardian angels for protecting us and keeping our country free, but they also need guardian angels to protect them. Below that is Protect, the troops protect us. Last, the back is dedicated to my brother, Virgil Scott Bonner, he is a Marine and currently stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC.”

In addition to showing her constant support and gratitude for the military through her socket art, Cali also dedicates her time to talking to wounded service members and speaking at benefit fundraisers for them. Her hope is that sharing her experiences of life after limb loss inspires them during their recovery.

“We are certainly inspired by this young girl’s dedication to a cause close to her heart and how she uses her socket art to reflect that intense commitment,” said Karen Lundquist, Director of Corporate Communications for Otto Bock HealthCare. “Also impressive is her ability at such a young age to be able to put aside the challenges of her own continuing medical issues and focus instead on helping others, and we are proud to name her our Socket Art Contest winner.”

Adrian Anantawan: One Of The Most Dynamic Young Musicians Of His Generation

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:34:44 GMT

Canadian violinist Adrian Anantawan has established himself as one of the most dynamic young musicians of his generation. Born of Thai-Chinese ethnicity, Anantawan began the violin at nine, and first toured with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 1999 and 2000.

Following this was his acceptance to the Curtis Institute of Music in 2001, where he completed his bachelor degree under the tutelage of Ida Kavafian and Yumi Ninomiya Scott. It was here that he worked in depth with such artists as Joseph Silverstein, Pamela Frank, and members of the Guarnerius Quartet. During these years, Adrian also worked extensively with Pinchas Zukerman in Ottawa, and Itzhak Perlman on Shelter Island, NY and Sarasota.

Recent highlights include:

• Performance at the Official One Year Countdown Gala of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics
Inducted into Terry Fox Hall of Fame, Toronto, 2008
• White House appearance in the presence of the First Lady to help launch the Global Cultural Initiative, sponsored by VSA arts, 2006
• Juno Nominee for Best Children Album "A Butterfly in Time", 2006
• National broadcast of TSO debut concert by CBC, January 1, 2006
• National broadcast of Glen Gloud Studio recital, Music around Us by CBC, 2006
• Nominee for Terry Fox Hall of Fame, 2005
• Galaxie Rising Star Award, CBC, 2005
• Starling Award for Most Promising Young Soloist, 2005
• Awarded the use of an 1698 Amati violin, 2004 – present
• Gold, and Grand Awards, International Mercury Film Festival, 2003 (profile)
• Gold, and Gold Special Jury’s Awards, Worldfest, Houston, 2003 (profile)
• VSA arts Rosemary Kennedy International Young Soloist Award, 2002
• Kids Hall of Fame Inductee, N.Y., 2001
• Young Achiever Award YTV (YAPS to the Max), 2001
• Mississauga Art Council Emerging Music Award, 2001
• Member of NYO of Canada, placed second in the nationwide audition, 2000
• One of the youngest violinists accepted by the NYO of Canada, 1999

Adrian is a key supporter of the disabled arts, as he was born without a right hand. He is a national spokesperson for the War Amps of Canada, and the Bloorview Kids Rehab Center. His proudest moments have included performances for the late Christopher Reeves and Pope John Paul II, and representing the Canada Cultural Showcase at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.

The documentary by ZAP Production “Adrian Anantawan: The Story Behind the Notes” was premiered by CBC on June 30, 2008 and by Bravo on Feb 15, 2009. The TV Guide chose the documentary as a top pick of the week and called Adrian’s performance “as being touched by greatness”.

Don't label these artists as disabled: Discover the artwork of these talented individuals.

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:50:45 GMT

If you were to find yourself staring at the art work of A. Erich Stegmann, Peter Longstaff, Michael Monaco, Simon Mark Smith, and Matt Sesow; I would say that the odds of you guessing that these artists have experienced limb loss... read more

Dan Horkey from Port Orchard, creates tattoos for prosthetic limbs

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:58:27 GMT

BELLEVUE, Wash. - Tim Harrison lost his leg to cancer 10 years ago. Since then he's been outfitted with what he calls his "robo leg," which inevitably draws stares, especially from curious kids.

Video: Port Orchard man creates tattoos for prosthetic limbs
But rather than be embarrassed by his disability, Harrison embraces it and emblazons his robo leg with a "tattoo."

"A lot of people are a little bit insecure about it because they're afraid to approach you, but if you've got a flame that's an automatic icebreaker," he said.

The idea of tattooing artificial limbs comes from Dan Horkey, who is an amputee himself.

"We're painting them like a car finish, like souped up cars," he said.
Horkey's start-up company, "Global Tattoo Orthotic Prosthetic Innovations," creates customized tats and brings a new vitality to otherwise lifeless limbs.

"It's a different feeling. It's bringing color out. It's bringing those feelings out of an individual and letting them express themselves," said Horkey.
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Mark Dalton is the artist behind the airbrush. For years he has worked on Harleys and hot rods. This is his first assignment with body parts.
Dalton says he can reproduce anything from digital photos to individualized artwork. He expects a lot of requests from Iraq war veterans.

"And for me to come in and do something they appreciate that much, that they can show off and feel good about something that's been very difficult in their life -- it's going to be a lot of fun," he said.

Nancy Andrist loves her pain-free tattoo. Her son, a tattoo aficionado himself, designed one for her.

She hopes that many more will follow in her footsteps - replacing the pain of the past with a picture of promise.

"I get up in the morning and go to put my leg on and I think about my son and it makes me smile. The pride I feel in just who I am is represented in this leg," she said.

The tattoos start at about $550. Dan Horkey says he is working with the VA to have them cover at least some of the costs.

Port Orchard Entrepreneur hopes to Serve Veterans

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:03:34 GMT

Dan Horkey has a dream: launch a successful small business in Kitsap County, complete with its own facility and in-house staff, to manufacture orthotic “tattoos.”

Horkey’s well on his way, even if on a smaller scale — since last year, his business, Global Tattoo Orthotic Prosthetic Innovations (GTOPI), has seen a growing customer base. His service applies high-quality artwork to braces and prosthetics using a similar process to custom car painting. The result is a beautiful design of the client’s choosing, including custom work.

Horkey’s idea came from his own experience. An amputee for more than 20 years after a motorcycle accident, Horkey is a trained orthotic and prosthetic technician. About four years ago, he decided to personalize his prosthetic, so he created his own socket and applied art to it. Last year, he decided to turn his idea into a business.

“When I put the piece of art on my socket, I stood tall, and my self-esteem was higher,” he said. “I felt more confident, and I received compliments when I wore shorts in public… I want to help others booster their self-esteem — help them be themselves and open up.”

Horkey’s goal was to reach out to American veterans, and in the past months he reached that goal. He has provided his service to veterans through the Veterans Administration, and recently his product was accepted by a contractor at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

“When they accepted my product, I feel I’ve received the seal of quality,” he said. “I’ve reached my goal in seven months to serve American vets. I’m very proud to be serving our veterans in a small way.”

The tattoo process is individualized to each customer, who can either choose a design on the original carbon-braded socket, or go with a background color instead. Horkey has various design choices and also offers custom work. The designs are hand-painted or airbrushed, and options include chrome finishes, candy colors, even sculptures and glow-in-the dark accents. The art is protected with a clear sealant, and the finishes are of durable quality, similar to those used for custom paint jobs for hot rods and motorcycles.

“There’s never been anything like this before,” Horkey said. “We’re creating a piece of art.”

Horkey uses contractors to create the designs, but he is dreaming big. He hopes to apply for SBA loans and grants, so he can build his own facility and create new jobs.

Horkey has found support from many people along the way, and says he is thankful for supporters like his Washington CASH mentors Bill Hoke and Stuart Walton.

Recently, he attended the annual Amputee Coalition of America conference as an exhibitor, and reached out via Twitter, Facebook and more conventional methods to find sponsors. One of the people who contacted him was a former classmate, and she told him her husband, who was getting ready for deployment in Afghanistan, offered Horkey his airline miles. The classmate wrote Horkey in an email: “It is clear that your heart is for the hurting and you want to be able to help them through your work.”

Horkey said that donation enabled him to attend an event that will help him to reach more people, and it’s just one example of the support he’s received.

“I’m finding that people are reaching out and trying to help,” he said.

For more information about GTOPI, go to www.gtopi.com or call (360) 895-1976.

Making prostheses into art

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:48:53 GMT

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – Prosthetic-tattoo entrepreneur Dan Horkey believes he’s a step ahead of the competition. “I’m the original,” said Horkey, who just started a business to turn clients’ artificial legs and arms into pieces of customized art. “I want to add color to people’s lives.” Horkey lost the lower half of one of his legs in a motorcycle accident in 1985. Two of the prostheses he uses today have fiery orange and yellow flames shooting up the sides. Both resemble detailing that might be found on cars, and Horkey calls on some of those car-detailing techniques in his business, Global Tattoo Orthotic Prosthetic Innovations. Now he’s ready to offer custom art to others, be they diabetics who’ve lost limbs, soldiers injured in wars or accident victims like himself. The art might be a nature scene, album cover, or any type of design the client can imagine – even solids to match skin hues. “I want to try to cheer these people up,” Horkey said. And he’s starting up a business that caters to a growing number of people. In the United States, there are 1.7 million people living with limb loss, according to the National Limb Loss Information Center. That’s one out of every 200 people. And the number is expected to rise as obesity rates climb and more are plagued with diabetes and vascular disease, which can lead to limb loss. For now working out of his home, Horkey and his helpers can apply “tattoos” to the socket, or cup, part of prosthetic limbs employing different techniques with a range of costs. The least expensive technique, from around $150 to $375, would entail a process where fabric with a design is applied to the prosthetic. The high-end technique would be airbrushing – like they do on cars – to the tune of about $450 to $600. “They supply me the art; I get it airbrushed,” he said. Customers would have to give up their limbs for a week to allow for the work, and fall back on their spares. In two years, he’d like to have a prosthetic and orthotic fabrication and tattoo shop, drawing on labor from the local Suquamish Tribe of American Indians. Beyond that, Horkey plans to make and offer a number of items related to artificial limbs that he has trouble finding now at reasonable cost. That would include covers, or limbs that could be traded out when wearers go to the beach, go swimming or take a shower. “I’m tired of sitting on a shower chair at the age of 44,” he said. By RACHEL PRITCHETT, Kitsap Sun Photo courtesy of Kitsap Sun... read more

What’s Bugging Seth

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:13:13 GMT

Many of us remember the 1994 blockbuster film Forrest Gump, and the intense performance by Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dang, a bilateral lower limb amputee. Regardless of how impressive Sinise’s performance was, there was one glaring flaw: Gary Sinise is not an amputee in reality. His lower limbs were removed by animators using computer graphics.

Why not use an actual amputee to play an amputee in a film? Television and films rarely use disabled actors to play disabled characters and usually opt for bigger named, able-bodied celebrities. The severe lack of disabled actors in Hollywood is due, in part, to type casting. Plots involving disabled characters usually revolve around the disability. Roles are limited for disabled actors and a successful acting career is only achieved by a handful of people with obvious disabilities.

What’s Bugging Seth, released to theaters in 2005, was the winner at eight film festivals and filmed entirely in California. Seth Singer (Ross Thomas), a driven young hearing impaired man, struggles with this business career and finds love with Alma (Amy Purdy), a bilateral below knee amputee. The two find romance and bond over their disabilities.

Purdy was 19 and living in Las Vegas when she was diagnosed with Neisseria Meningitis, after suddenly experiencing flu-like symptoms.

After suffering septic shock, Purdy experienced renal failure and loss of circulation throughout her body. Despite being given only a 2% chance of survival, Purdy did eventually recover. The loss of circulation did cause permanent damage to both of her legs, which were amputated below the knees. Years later she also received a kidney transplant from her father.

After surviving this ordeal, Purdy challenged herself to move forward with her life and become active in the disabled community. A grant through The Challenged Athlete Foundation (CAF) enabled her to travel extensively to participate in national snowboarding competitions. Purdy has modeled for advertisements for Freedom Innovations, a manufacturer of prosthetic components, and was featured in a Madonna music video, where she played a runway model. Purdy can also be found modeling in Fugue Magazine, a magazine dedicated to art, culture, and music. She learned of the casting for What’s Bugging Seth from her prosthetist. The casting called for a young female bilateral lower extremity amputee with red hair and a classic look… Purdy definitely fits the bill.

What’s Bugging Seth received glowing reviews by many and Purdy’s performance may catapult her into mainstream roles. Until then, Purdy will be busy with the non-profit organization she developed, Adaptive Action Sports (AAS), which empowers disabled athletes to participate in extreme and adaptive sports.

Check out the following links:

www.whatsbuggingseth.com

www.challengedathletesfoundaton.org

www.adaptiveactionsports.com

AAOS 75th Anniversary Meeting eMotion Exhibit

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:15:06 GMT

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) was founded in 1993 and is the top international provider of education to orthopaedic surgeons, offering continued education activities, CME courses, medical publications and electronic media materials. The AAOS annual meeting will be held in San Francisco, California, March 5-9, 2008. The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, founded by the Academy Board of Directors in 1997, engages in health and advocacy issues, representing patients and the entire medical profession. To raise awareness and showcase the experiences of orthopaedic professionals and patients, the AAOS presents eMotion, a traveling art exhibit.

AAOS welcomed art submissions from patients and medical professionals from around the nation. Applicants were asked to provide biographical information, original artwork, and a detailed explanation of the significance of the art piece, as it relates to orthopaedics. The eMotion exhibit also shows another side of medical professionals, who were asked to tap into their emotions, expressing everything from the joy of improving a patient’s quality of life, to the frustration of and exhaustion of dealing with patient care. The number of submissions was overwhelming, showcasing the profound impact these conditions have on patients and professionals.

The traveling exhibit will be consolidated into a coffee table book, a film, and will be featured on the AAOS website. For more information on the AAOS, go to www.aaos.org