#strokesurvivor

An Art Show for (and by) Stroke Survivors

Here is a video of my art exhibition titled “Beyond Words: Healing With the Arts After Stroke”, held at the Huntington Public Library on Main Street in Huntington, NY in October, 2024. A special interactive presentation was held during the Opening Reception on October 6th, 2024.

I want to thank the Huntington Public Library for the oportunity to hold this exhibition in their gallery space. I also want to thank the Huntington Arts Council for the grant that made this exhibition possible. I want to also thank the nurse who works with stroke survivors for going above and beyond to ask the people she works with for quotes to use in the show, and I want to thank those stroke survivors for their words. And their courage. This show was for all of us.

For those who wish to receive a PDF of the list of Stroke Survivor Resources I complied and handed out at the show, please feel free to email me at: bellspirit @ gmail dot com and I will be glad to send it to you.

“I’m Not Okay”, 2024, acrylic and marker on canvas by Robyn Bellospirito.

Old Life, New Life... This is Life

Today is nine months to the day after I had the first stroke. I remember it each month. That day my life changed and I’m still not sure of who I am becoming. When I paint, do I paint simply because it is what I have done for fifty years or because I truly want to? There is an internal guidance system that leads me along each day. Part of that is the way I feel physically and part of it is, what will help, bring me joy, bring me peace in my heart and mind? No obligations although of course those exist, we all have them in having to eat, sleep, pay our bills, and get by in this human existence. But I let that internal guidance lead me along in the times in between.

The hoop is something I am practicing again now that I’m over covid, even though I still get tired each day and can only do so much….. many reasons I have this fatigue which I’ve dealt with for years. But I keep getting up. No matter what, I get up and do the best I can with each day. Even on the tough ones when it doesn’t feel like I have a purpose at all anymore…… I feel into my body and that internal guidance and let it lead. And of course, I have to say yes.