(calm music) - Art has the power to transform us by allowing us to experience a different viewpoint in the world from a non-judgmental space.

And the music that we write is really just the human experience.

(calm music) My music is primarily folk music.

I'm really into lyrics and melodies and harmonies in the folk tradition.

And then I also have some influences from Celtic music, specifically.

But because of a looping pedal, there's also this element of experimental ambient sounds.

And so it's sort of a blending of different traditions.

(calm music) I think the role of art is to connect with our creative energy.

I think something in us, very human, is just this desire to play and create and experience new things and I think art accomplishes all of that.

(calm music) And also helps us to express emotions that we might not have words for.

And it's a really human thing to wanna express what's inside of us in a creative way.

♪ Can you see me, way in the back here ♪ ♪ I've been waiting, I've been waiting in line ♪ ♪ It's been a long time ♪ Can't get no service ♪ Still I'm hoping, I am hoping for a sign ♪ ♪ That one day things will change ♪ ♪ And we can finally take our place ♪ ♪ That history won't forget us ♪ Or try to minimize our pain ♪ And so I wait I got started in music in fifth grade.

There was an orchestra that came to our elementary school and played for us.

And I loved the sound of all the strings together.

And I knew that that's what I wanted to do.

And so we figured out a way that I could hold the violin.

I hold it in front of me like a small cello.

And I've been playing ever since.

♪ Did you know that when I get angry ♪ ♪ I breath fire, I can burn this place down ♪ ♪ You may not realize all of the small ways ♪ ♪ I am not welcome, but just take a look around ♪ Disabled people are resilient, we're adaptable, we're creative, and I think we see the world and our relationships in it through a different lens.

To me, that is the essence of disability culture.

♪ Pushing up, pushing up ♪ Through the dirt just like a seed ♪ ♪ But you're never quite a flower ♪ ♪ You feel more just like a weed ♪ ♪ Driving through, driving through ♪ ♪ You don't know where you are going ♪ ♪ But the windshield's always dirty ♪ ♪ And you never get to see ♪ What makes you think that you'll ever get there?

♪ ♪ What makes you think you deserve to know?

♪ ♪ Who are you really, are you so important?

♪ ♪ Take a look around ♪ and watch the world unfold ♪ Watch the world unfold Disability culture has been like an evolving thing for me, just like realizing that it's out there and that you're not alone.

- I feel like there's this aspect of like we are creating the culture as we make art and as we connect with people.

- One thing that's been really important to me in the last few years is nurturing a sense of community among other disabled artists.

Part of it is because we haven't been amplified in our society, so a lot of us felt very isolated, because we were navigating the music industry in a way that it was not very accessible right now.

- For a lot of my life, I lived in a world not designed for me.

- Yep.

- And so I hid it for a long time.

And it wasn't until I understood that, hey, I'm not gonna get anywhere in life without asking for, not help, but, hey, support.

And being open and becoming vulnerable with other people.

- I love thinking about disability culture, because it reframes disability from something negative into just a form of diversity that really can be celebrated.

- It lets other people into the world and into the culture, because we're all just different bodies and we're all- - Exactly.

- Trying to figure out how to be in the same space together.

- Well, what I love about this is that we've built a bit of culture here.

We are a culture of three.

We are a community of three.

- Mhm-mm.

- Right.

♪ Who are you really, are you so important ♪ ♪ Take a look around ♪ and watch the world unfold ♪ Watch the world unfold ♪ Watch the world unfold ♪ Watch the world unfold - [Announcer] This program was produced in collaboration with the Center for the Art of Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

And funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

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