Thursday, April 12, 2012
Dan Keplinger, a Parkville High school graduate and artist, returned to his alma mater to speak to students Thursday.
Check out this gallery of Dan Keplinger's art. A renowned artist and the subject of the Oscar winning documentary "King Gimp," Keplinger is a Parkville High School graduate and he returned to the school Thursday to talk to students there. Keplinger has cerebral palsy and creates his artwork—everything from oil paintings to ceramics—using a unique piece of headgear he calls his "head stick." For more on Keplinger, check out a one-on-one interview here on Patch.
Dan Keplinger, a famous artist with cerebral palsy, talks about his time at Parkville High School and his forthcoming move back to the community.
After a speaking engagement at Parkville High School Thursday morning Patch sat down with Dan Keplinger to talk about his hometown. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy shortly after his birth, Keplinger lacks fine motor control over his limbs and so he uses his head to paint. Growing up in Parkville and attending Parkville High School before heading to Towson University, he's had his share of naysayers. But he's overcome the odds to become a nationally renowned artist. It all started when he made the transition to Parkville High School—at the time, Keplinger said, Parkville was the only mainstream school that would have him. It also employed an art teacher who believed in him. "I was always into art," Keplinger said. But, in his own words, it …
Dan "King Gimp" Keplinger returned to his alma mater to speak to the sophomore class about his journey as an artist.
Almost 20 years ago at Parkville High School, a student rolled across the stage to receive his diploma. That student would go on to become a renowned artist: he's been featured in a Super Bowl commercial, won an Academy Award in 2000 and his work hangs in private collections between art world giants Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Back then, though, Dan Keplinger was just another Parkville High School student. To check out the Super Bowl commercial featuring Keplinger click on the video attached to this article and check out this gallery of his art here on Patch. On Thursday, Keplinger returned to his alma mater for the first time to speak to the sophomore class about following their dreams. Keplinger developed cerebral palsy at birth …
Lexa Newman
8:27 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
After having talked with a few students, I realize what an asset Dan Keplinger truly is to our community. "Did you see him smile?" "Did you hear what he said about that TEACHER?" were some comments that I overheard. I too, saw him smile, and heard what he said about that teacher. I also heard what he said about how he chose to go through life. Be kind, and believe in other people as well. Be … more ›