Dancing
16″ x 20″ Acrylic on Canvas
Part of the “See What I Can Do!” series of paintings
This young girl is a wonderful 6 year old child. She was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, which creates some limits, and some special abilities. She loves being around people, listening to music, dancing, and is the life of the party.
Her little brother is a great friend and a big supporter of his older sister. He is aware and conscious of his big sister and is very protective of her. He is kind and helpful, and loves to dance and play with her. He is learning so many things about being with and helping others at a very young age.
The artist was inspired to paint this scene after viewing a video of these two at a party at the Swallow Hill Concert hall. They were free to be just as they are. Little brother took big sister in her wheelchair onto the dance floor, and the two of them turned and “danced” to the music.
In this painting sister and brother are dancing on the grass in their backyard. She in her walker, and he is there to steady her as they dance together.
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome
Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body. The major features include a characteristic facial appearance, delayed growth and development, intellectual disability, low muscle tone (hypotonia), and seizures. Other features may include skeletal abnormalities, congenital heart defects, hearing loss, urinary tract malformations, and/or structural brain abnormalities. WHS is caused by a missing piece (deletion) of genetic material near the end of the short (p) arm of chromosome 4 (written as 4p-). The size of the deletion varies among people with WHS, and studies suggest larger deletions tend to result in more severe features. Most cases of WHS are not inherited, but some cases are inherited from a parent who does not have WHS.
(Standing Strong)
(Sisters on the Beach)