Featured Artist: Kim Kilpatrick
Kim and her guide dog Tulia (now retired but still a live in friend)
Kim Kilpatrick is a storyteller, music therapist and disability rights activist. Born blind, she is known for her autobiographical one woman shows, “Flying in the Dark” and “Raising Stanley, life with Tulia”. Tulia, her seeing eye dog, pictured above, is now living with Kim in retirement. Kim’s current guide dog is named Ginger. Each of Kim’s five guide dogs have assisted in her connecting seniors, children and people with disabilities.They have all accompanied her in her work and are always a hit with everyone they meet.
Kilpatrick loves working with elders as a music therapist. Growing up she spent a lot of time around her grandparents and their friends, who told stories and sang folk songs. She emphasizes the importance of hearing the voices of the elderly and the ill. She describes her relationships with a music teacher who was gradually losing her memory. When she could no longer speak she could still sing, when she could no longer sing the words she could still sing the melody. “The arts,” says Kilpatrick, “are a window to the people that they (the residents or patients) are.” As arts workers we can tell healthcare workers stories about our interactions with people in care, to ensure they are not simply viewed as their condition. We need to help each other and share information.
Kilpatrick doesn’t see her disability as something that needs fixing. It has helped unite her with residents in care homes. They understand each other. Even residents with the most profound dementia helped her and showed her care in return for the care she gave to them. She asked them to teach her songs and stories. They shared with her their wisdom.
People are not just their disabilities, says Kilpatrick, they are whole people, many of whom loved the arts before and miss them. The arts are a powerful tool. To learn more about Kim Kilpatrick and her work in health and the arts visit Radical Connection’s YouTube site at: