SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 DISABILITY JUSTICE Undercover art intel: Stephon Pate and how art can save lives Stephon David Pate: “Growing up in a military family is not simple. There were three things that really affected me. First was the constant moving from base to base. This led to insecurity issues. The second issue was the lack of family — the higher the rank the less time one sees family on a regular basis. And last but not least, the uncertainty of what the war will bring and how it would affect me and my family.” Pate’s family traveled around the world and within the United States, living on many bases and near the Pentagon. As a child he suffered from ADD and ADHD as well as other issues that have created many personal pains for years. The one thing that was a true help in all the frustrations was the creation and use of his artistic talents. “I discovered I had real talent at the very young age of four. It was my dad who saw my ability to draw. He sat me down one day and told me to draw for him. So I did and created an image that totally impressed him to support my artwork. As I got older he would always have pen and paper to help me to calm down because of my ADHD. He had the ability to see how art would give me time to think and slow down. I remember in highschool as a freshman this kid needed help drawing in art class, so I took him under my wing and by the time he graduated, he used what I showed him over many years to go on and become an architect in real life. “What I love about my artwork is the thrill of others when they see my talent. I am what people call a perfectionist when it comes to my artworks. I love the detailed work I do to create soft images of swans, trees, flowers as well as edging. Making stationary and postcards as well as being addressed — no oversight or regulation to check the truth on many disabled people's diagnoses. It is also my own personal reality. When I was homeless Pate told CINDY GERE Groundcover vendor No. 279 magnets for fun helps me to slow down and think. Keeps me calm.” Mindfulness is a therapy for disabled people that has increased over the past ten years and Pate in his own way discovered how to do mindfulness with the use of art therapy. This can change lives and it did for Pate. I asked him how this helped him — he told me, “If it was not for drawing as a kid with my dad, I know I would have been more out of control. It was the use of art that helped me keep myself under control with rage and impulsivity. I'm discovering what it takes to calm down. This is a lifelong process that I deal with all the time.” Stephon is not under any drug influence and so he uses art as a real ongoing non-drug therapy. I fully believe in non-drug actions for disabled people. Too often in our society we go directly to the drug rather than see any kind of alternative for low income and disabled people. Disabilities are a revolving door for big pharma to make millions and the more disabled people that are labeled, or what I called stamped, the more they are pushed into taking drugs and then suffer from life threatening long term effects that are not watched, the more they die from the drugs rather than the disability. To me this is a real issue not me to check out the truth of the marriage of homelessness and disability with the drug pushers within the system. What I found was very sad. The doc asked me to take Lithium for my fetal alcohol syndrome. If I took such a hard drug this could have led me to suffer its side effects and maybe to take heroin or crack. This all happened back in 2014. The system has changed since then. But not by much. When people take control over their disabilities they find freedom and truth. Pate took charge of his own life with the use of art therapy, and he told me this is a lifelong process he will live with, but art changed his life. Most of the art he chooses to do is in fact given away as gifts. Every artist uses their art for many different reasons; some use it for profit and others for personal well-being, still others as gifts. GROUNDCOVER NEWS What’s Happening at the Ann Arbor District Library Open 10am–8pm Daily Hang out in any of our five locations across town, browsing books, magazines, newspapers, and more, or check out movies, CDs, art prints, musical instruments, and home tools— you name it! Study and meeting rooms, fast and free WiFi, and plenty of places to sit and hang out. Unusual Stuff to Borrow There’s more to borrow at AADL than books, music, and movies. To name a few, there are games, telescopes, stories-to-go kits, and home tools. Check out these unusual yet handy items during your next library visit. Michigan Activity Pass With a valid library card from any Michigan public library, you can print a pass to participating organizations, including museums and state parks, through the Michigan Activity Pass website. Some partners offer complimentary or reduced-price admission; others, discounts in their gift shop or other exclusive offers. FEATURED EVENT 5 Saturday, October 5 • 10am–5pm Downtown Library Join us in October for A2CAF: Small + Indie Press, where you can explore the world of independent comic publishing. Meet artists, discover unique art, and get your favorite books signed by the creators themselves! This event is perfect for teens and adults who are passionate about comics. Pencil sketches by Stephon David Pate.
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