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Troy Lindstrom – #NotA

This is a poster advertising the art show of Troy Lindstrom. His name is emblazoned at the top, in a white comic-book font with slight red glow, over a green background. Below is a self-portrait drawing in an ornate black frame. The artist is a middle-aged man sporting a beard and glasses. He has a severe expression. The drawing is titled with the phrase “I am a person with a disability”. In the bottom corner, on a green background, we find the show title: “#NotA,” and the information: opening Oct. 7, 6-9pm, 102-329 Cumberland Ave. Wpg and aanm.ca/online-exhibitions, as well as the logos for Arts AccessAbility Network Manitoba and Canada Council for the Arts. The entire right side of the poster is filled with portions of his drawings, on which we glimpse words in various comic-book fonts: “Not A Monster, Not Weak, Not Soulless, Not a Joke,” etc.

This is a headshot of the artist. His hair is cut short on the sides and parted on the right. The hair on the top of his head is longer and combed from right to left. He has a thick beard with a stern look on his face. The artists glasses are square framed with rounded corners, and he has a bulbus nose. The artist is wearing a black and blue scarf wrapped around his neck.

STATEMENT:

The #NotA series was created to confront implicit bias targeting people with a disability. As an artist, I want people to view these illustrations and ask themselves. “Is this how I think when interacting with a disabled person?” Are my thoughts negative ones such as fear, revulsion, or pity?” Viewers can then recognize the bias that creates those thoughts and confront it internally to change how we are seen. Bias against people with a disability is still accepted and that must change. This series is my effort to start a dialog about the disabled and how we are seen in Canada.

BIO:

Troy Lindstrom was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in his early 20’s. He went through many years of depression and when Troy finally decided to make a life for himself, he found the roadblocks that many people with a disability face. Troy’s art is his purpose. Troy has always used art as a coping tool, but now he creates through the disability lens his life has given him. Using his art and experience to make people with disabilities visible and confronting the stigma and bias they face. Seeing what is happening to the disabled during the pandemic has shown Troy that the progress they had made through accessibility and inclusion was an illusion. Troy wants to confront those who think we are worth less and celebrate our allies with his illustrations.

Prints available for sale at the artist’s website: https://tefrin-digital.art/store/art_prints

CONTENT WARNING: Reference to assisted dying.

An illustration of a man with short hair, a beard, and glasses sits inside an art deco frame. Text with the words “I am a person with a” at the top of the illustration and the word “Disability” in all caps at the bottom. The Illustration is a self-portrait of the artist drawn in black, white, and grey. His hair is cut short on the sides and parted on the right. The hair on the top of his head is longer and combed from right to left. He has a thick beard with a stern look on his face. The artists glasses are square framed with rounded corners, and he has a bulbus nose. The artist is wearing a black and blue scarf wrapped around his neck.
I am a Person with a Disability 2021 12”x18” Digital image. 
An illustration of Frankenstein’s monster from the neck up in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored a bright red. The text “# Not A Monster” is at the bottom of the illustration with “Monster” in bright red. The illustration of the monster is in black and white line art. With a jumble of words behind it in a light grey. The monster looks forward with a scarred and pot marked face. Two metal nodes are attached to his neck. It has a flat head with little hair and large staples in its forehead.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotAMonster 2021 12”x18” Digital image. Credit: Frankenstein created by Mary Shelley Frankenstein portrayed by Boris Karloff Frankenstein design by Jack P. Pierce

This is a graphite and ink portrait of an older woman, dressed in a dark long-sleeved sporting shirt and dark pants. She is wearing sunglasses and a hat, and holding a paddle in one hand as she smiles at us.

An illustration of the invisible man from the neck up in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored a bright red with puffs of paint around it. The text “# Not Invisible” is at the bottom of the illustration with “Invisible” in bright red. The text “Invisible’ is a wordmark shaped in a wave with paint dripping from it. The invisible man's face is wrapped in bandages. He wears vintage sunglasses with square frames on the outside that curve on the inside. The sunglasses have side panels. The illustration is colored with a light yellow to give it an aged look.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotInvisible 2021 12”x18” Digital image. Credit: Invisible man Created by H.G. Wells Invisible man Portrayed by Claude Rains
An illustration of the creature from the black lagoon in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps. The text is white. The text “# Not A freak of nature” is at the bottom of the illustration in white with “freak” in bright green. The word freak is a word mark angled upward. The frame has vines creeping around the top, hanging down obscuring some of the text. The creature illustration is a color image using black line art. The creature looks ahead with 3 layers of gills going from its cheek bones to its neck. The creature has large marble like eyes and no hair. Its chin is folds of skin and its shoulders are scaled. The background is a silhouette of a swamp at sunset using yellows and greens.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotAFreakOfNature 2021 12”x18” Digital image. Credit: Creature designed by Milicent Patrick Creature played by Ricou Browning
An illustration of the vampire Nosferatu from the shoulders up in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored a Blood red with the text “# Not A Drain on Society” is at the bottom of the illustration with “Drain” in a gothic font colored blood red. The illustration of Nosferatu is gray-scale line art. The vampire has large, pointed ears and round bulbus eyes. It has little hair and bushy eyebrows. Its nose is long, and its mouth is parted slightly showing its long needle like teeth. Nosferatu looks down at its victim holding her head with its long fingers and sharp talon like nails. A necklace around her neck has a red maple leaf.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotADrainOnSociety 2021 12”x18” Digital image. Credit: Nosferatu played by Max Schreck Nosferatu based on Bram Stocker’s Dracula

 

 

An illustration of the Jacqueline Phoenix’s portrayal of the joker from the neck up in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored a bright red. The text “# Not A Joke” is at the bottom of the illustration with “Joke” in bright red. The text “Joke’ is a wordmark. The Joker looks forward with dead eyes and a neutral expression on his face. He has shoulder length hair that is parted on the left. The joker’s Clown makeup consists of blue triangles above and below his eyes and red paint on his nose and mouth. The background is filled with the text HA all in varied sizes and angles.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotAJoke 2021 12”x18” Digital image. Credit: Joker played by Joaquin Phoenix Joker created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson
An illustration of the Grim Reaper from the neck up in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored White. The text “# Not Better Off Dead” is at the bottom of the illustration with the text “Dead” in all caps and colored red. The reaper is framed in gray wearing a hood. It stares ahead just a skull with no flesh on its bones. The hood is black on the outside and white inside. Light reflects on the skull and white cloth. Its eyes are large and round with pupils at the center.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotBetterOffDead 2021 12”x18” Digital image.
An illustration of the Bride of Frankenstein from the neck up in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored blue. The text “# Not Soulless” is at the bottom of the illustration with the text “soulless” in all caps and colored pail blue/grey. The bride has a stone-faced stare with black eyes. its hair is thin and Wiry. Two strips of white hair go from its temples to the back of its head. Its face is thin with grey contour shading.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotSoulless 2021 12”x18” Digital image. Credit: Bride Frankenstein portrayed by Elsa Lanchester Bride Frankenstein design by Jack P. Pierce

 

An illustration of Cousin It from the Adam’s Family from the neck up in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored Red. The text “# Not An It” is at the bottom of the illustration. Cousin It is wearing a tall bowler had with Bottle cap sunglasses. It has long flowing hair covering its’ entire body. The illustration is black and white line art.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotAnIt 2022 12”x18” Digital image. Credit: Cousin It created by David Levy and Charles Addams

 

An illustration of The Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz from the neck up in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored lime green. The text “# Not Weak” is at the bottom of the illustration. The Lion has fur surrounding its face with a large bulbus nose and large cheeks. Cat whiskers grow from its upper lip.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotWeak 2022 12”x18” Digital image. Credit: The Cowardly Lion Created by L. Frank. Baum The Cowardly Lion played by Bert Lahr
An illustration of A vial of Rocuronium Bromide in orange with a Victorian era syringe engraved with the words,” Medical Assistance in Dying.” In an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored Orange. The text “#Not A Cure” is at the bottom of the illustration with the text in all caps and colored Orange The syringe is metal with a glass window at the center of the cylinder. The Vial is clear with a red cap and a white and orange label. The text on the label:” Rocuronium Bromide Injection 50mg/5ml, Paralyzing Agent Paralyzing, For I.V. Use Only / Pour Administration I.V. seulement Sterile Solution Sterile.”
I am a Person with a Disability #NotACure 2022 12”x18” Digital image.
An illustration of Jason Voorhees in his hockey mask from the horror movie Friday the 13th in an art deco frame. The frame consists of a small marquee at the top with an image of the artist and the main image below. The text “I am a person with a disability.’ Sits at the top of the illustration. The word “Disability” is in all caps and is colored red. The text “# Not AFRAID” is at the bottom of the illustration. Jason is wearing a frayed green jacket and t-shirt. His mask is mottled with 3 red markings one on the forehead and the other two on either side of the nose. The mask has ventilation holes at the top and bottom and his eyes are white lines inside a black socket.
I am a Person with a Disability #NotAfraid 2022 12”x18” Digital image. Credit: Jason Voorhees created by Victor Miller, Ron Kurz, Sean S. Cunningham, and Tom Savini

This is a drawing of an elderly Einstein. He is wearing a sweater. His hair is white and bushy, as is his moustache. His hands are clasped in front of him. He looks up and to the side, lost in thought.

This is a portrait of an elderly woman, who stares towards us intently. One hand is raised, brushing her white hair back from her face. She wears a patterned scarf.

This is a portrait of an elderly woman with a short white bob. She is laughing freely, her arms raised in mirth. She wears a string of pearls and a white slip-dress.

This is a drawing of an elderly woman. She gazes though the oval lenses of a pair of glasses. She wears a dark hat. Her face is wrinkled. She wears gems set in ornate nose jewellery, and feather earrings.

This is a portrait of an elderly person. Their hair is short and messy, and they wear a housecoat. They face us with eyes and mouth scrunched shut, cheeks puffed, like they are holding their breath.

In this drawing we see an elderly woman’s face, as reflected in a mirror she is gazing into. Her eye are apprehensive, a concerned /confused look on her face.

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