opulent-story

The Birth of Opulent Mobility

"I got interested in assistive technology after a partner had a stroke. I was fascinated by the devices, but was shocked at their impersonal ugliness. With the help of a wheelchair-using friend, I turned an old Nutron R51 chair into an Edwardian throne (Driven) and Opulent Mobility was born.

After making my next piece (Le Flaneur) I struggled to find places to show my work. Many galleries, at least the ones open to emerging artists, are not wheelchair accessible. In spite of the good work of the ADA, a lot of places aren't access friendly. After discovering how hard it was to make my sculptures safe and functional, I did some research about wheelchair and walker designs. There are quite a few patents online for imaginative and innovative assistive technology devices.

Almost none of those designs are available for sale on the market.

It was clear that this problem was larger than I thought. I decided to curate group exhibits dealing with the subject. Maybe I could find kindred spirits, fellow artists and people who could help me maneuver the tricky paths of medical licensing and make these fabulous devices a reality. At the very least it would get people talking about the subject. Along the way, I have been coming to grips with my own invisible disabilities.

Sharing this exhibit and these ideas is the best way I know to get that conversation started. After all, we have to be able to see the possibilities before we know we want them."

A. Laura Brody

Who is Opulent Mobility For?

Making our world more personal and accessible benefits us all.

Consider:
-Disabilities can and will affect us at any age.
-In the next 20 years, 80 million people in the United States will reach retirement age.
-We haven't discovered a cure for many diseases, visible or not, that cause disabilities, and there is no cure for aging.
-Personalizing recovery wards and hospital rooms is proven to have health benefits. It's not much of a stretch to apply that knowledge to assistive tech.
-Our environment affects our health and well-being, both mental and physical. We know this. Advertisers have used this information for years to sell things to us.
-If we are fortunate enough to live through injuries, diseases (both common and uncommon) and the effects of aging, we will all need adaptive technology.

Couldn't we all use a little help?