An interview with Ali Blevins from Poets with Parkinson’s June 13, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
My name is Ali Blevins and in 2017, after more than a year of experiencing a variety of weird symptoms, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease… fairly devastating news for someone with a passion for the outdoors and who has spent much of her life in the pursuit of physical adventure!
Please tell me a little about your background and what got you involved with awareness.
I was diagnosed in 2017 at the age of 52. Before the diagnosis I was a Primary School Teacher. I was advised to try mindfulness coloring to help with my fine motor control and that is when I started drawing and painting. I entered an art competition run by https://parkinsons.art and then began to participate in their Poetry Section. As a member of that group, I have had work in two art exhibitions in London and my poems have been included in a book of poetry. Since then, the poetry section of Parkinson’s Art has created their own website. It is run by Nigel Smith, Martin Pickard, Katherina Beyer and myself.
Can you tell me more about your advocacy?
Poets With Parkinson’s is run by Nigel Smith, Martin Pickard, Katherina Beyer and myself. We are a safe place for poets who happen to have Parkinson’s. The site is primarily about supporting each other as poets and not so much about advocacy.
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become damaged over time. Parkinson’s disease has over forty recognised physical and psychological symptoms. The disease is progressive and currently there is no cure.
Exercise is the only thing proven to slow down progression of the disease and I was told to adopt a ‘use it or lose it’ approach.
‘That’s fine,’ I thought, ‘I can do that’
However, there was one part of my body exercise wasn’t helping and I was referred to a physiotherapist to improve the dexterity and fine motor control in my right hand. Mindfulness Colouring was what was suggested but I soon realised that wasn’t for me. Frustrated and bored and I started doodling instead. The doodling led to drawing and the drawing led to painting.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
Creating artwork has been the perfect vehicle for helping me come to terms with having Parkinson’s disease. It enables me to work through my stresses, let off steam and express how I am feeling. I do not have a particular style, I tend to go where the mood takes me; sometimes fun, sometimes reflective, often quirky but at its heart there is always narrative, emotion and a need for movement. My passions are art, poetry, music, and being outdoors.
What effect can poetry have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
Since I first picked up a pencil with Parkinson’s I have exhibited at the Reader Gallery in Liverpool and twice at the Oxo Gallery on London’s South Bank. In 2021 I was commissioned by Charles River Laboratories to paint a giant hare for Leuchie House as part of their Big Hare Trail and I had my first solo exhibition at The Barefoot Sanctuary in North Berwick.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your artwork and advocacy?
Ali Blevins Art is my own personal Facebook page. I have been creating consistently since diagnosis. Not all my art is about Parkinson’s but a lot of it is. I try to use it to share my experiences and enlighten people a little about the disease. I have had my work exhibited at the Oxo Gallery in London and have had two solo exhibitions.
I also founded a group called the ‘Art of Possible Collective’ and exhibit regularly with them. These are people who have come to art through either illness or injury. Most of my work exploring Parkinson’s is on display at Leuchie House, a charity which provides respite breaks for people with neurological diseases including Parkinson’s.
What events do you participate in?
This year my artwork has been displayed in Leuchie House’s Aviemore Room for their tenth year anniversary celebrations and I am a long list finalist for the Scottish Portrait Fine Art Award 2022.
Through auctions, raffles and art sales I have been able to raise over £10,000 for a variety of charities including Parkinson’s UK, Leuchie House, Shelter, Action Aid
and Help for Heroes.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?