Kristina Diaz was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) when she was eight years old and by the time she was 17, had lost her hearing. Channeling her thoughts and emotions into art, Kristina found other ways of expressing herself, including photography and writing, and earned a master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy.
On November 15th, Kristina’s first art exhibition opened at the Queens Museum in New York City. Unwavering Truth: Archive of Our Own presents an honest look at people living with neurofibromatosis type 2.
Kristina collaborated with her friend Ryan Camarda to curate a collection of multimedia artwork representing the unpredictability of neurofibromatosis and the many different experiences each individual person with this disorder faces. The exhibit includes MRI and CT scans, poetry, paintings, pictures, sculpture, and a video to exemplify how the artists view living with NF.
Kristina was inspired to create this exhibit by Nathalie Trytell, an artist who, while striving to maintain her artistic voice despite severe physical challenges, passed away in 2011 at age 32. Some of Nathalie’s work is included in the exhibition and both she and Kristina are the subjects of Ryan Camarda’s film.
After an introductory speech by Kristina and Ryan, and time spent viewing the exhibit’s art and poetry, the crowd, consisting of friends, family, and supporters of all three artists, from places as far-flung as Nebraska and England, filed into an auditorium for the debut of the film “Unwavering Truth: Archive of Our Own“.
As the lights came back up, it was evident that everyone was visibly moved by both women’s courage, fortitude, and talent, as well as the poignancy of Ryan’s movie. Nathalie Trytell’s brother, Matthew, who travelled from London where he now lives, couldn’t hold back tears as he watched the film, and Nathalie’s parents expressed how meaningful it was to have her memory preserved and shared in such a special way.
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Kristina with Ryan Mixed media piece |
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MRI & CT scans were re-imagined |
At the opening reception looking at Kristina’s collage, |
Rachel Mindrup, an artist from Omaha, Nebraska, often paints portraits of people living with neurofibromatosis. Motivated by her son who has NF, these portraits portray the individual personalities first, transforming genetic complications into something secondary. Selections from her series, “The Many Faces of NF,” were incorporated into the larger exhibit.
Rachel Mindrup (L) and Kristina Diaz
The exhibit is open to the public thru December 31, 2014.
(Photos by Mary Vetting and Kristina Diaz)
