Most of us might assume that the need for a wheelchair limits possibility.
What if it actually expands what’s possible?

Sue Austin’s work has an immensely transformative power. She’s shattering the boundaries of our assumptions and our preconceived notions. With her wheelchair as an integral part of her creative process, she expresses a joy and freedom most do not understand!

Today, we look at her Freewheeling TED Talk and more in this article about changing the unknown.

Image: Sue Austin Underwater in her wheelchair surrounded by hundreds of small red/orange fish

Source: TED

As a multimedia, performance, and installation artist, Sue Austin is changing the way we think about disabilities. Her powerful artwork makes us step back and question our deeply held assumptions. The stunning imagery she creates truly shows that the world is full of boundless possibility. Check out her awesome TED talk below…

Via: TEDx Talks 1

Re-envisioning the Familiar…

In addition to her underwater work , she created “Traces from a Wheelchair” where her wheelchair became her paintbrush and mode of expression!

Image: One of Sue Austin's wheelchair paintings

Source: TED

Image: Sue Austin Free Wheeling on grass

Source: TED

Austin also founded Freewheeling: “a disability led initiative focused on providing a ‘hub’ around which to foster integrated arts projects.” 2

More underwater wonder:

Image: Sue scuba diving in a wheel chair near a coral reef

Source: Life Labs

image: water acrobatics in a wheelchair

Source: Freewheeling

You can see even more of her work and learn more about Freewheeling here.

Art is powerful when it helps us to re-envision the familiar, and transform our preconceived notions. It forces us to ask why, and then perhaps, “Why not?!”

Because of Sue Austin and artists like her, perhaps next time we see ourselves reacting on habit or impulse we will pause, step back, and reassess the world with more open eyes.

Today’s article idea came to us from Holly Thweatt. You can send us inspiring content ideas too! I’m so glad Holly reminded me of this TED Talk. This has long been on my list of “Most Inspiring Talks” too!

-Liesl

“The shortest distance between two people is laughter” -Victor Borge

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Notes:

  1. Austin, Sue. “Sue Austin at TEDxWomen 2012.” TEDx Talks, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 4 Sept. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdFOm8SmlMA>. ↩
  2. “About-Sue Austin.” We Are Freewheeling. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2015. <http://www.wearefreewheeling.org.uk/sue-austin-about>. ↩

Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

COO of Ever Widening Circles, Founder of EWCed
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Liesl is a camera-toting traveler, a global story seeker, and an aspiring—but more often floundering—outdoor enthusiast. She can be found on Instagram @Liesl.UV