new zealand …uphill

TASC profile – Murray Cohen

May 4, 2009 on 4:00 am | In TASC profiles | No Comments

Here is the first of a few profiles I will be putting up on people involved with TASC and who TASC has helped out. They are all super stars!

Murray Cohen

My name is Murray Cohen, I am 57 years of age and I have been paralysed from the neck down for the last 20 years, after a swimming accident, diving into my own private swimming pool. The date of my accident was Christmas Day 1988. I was in traction, on my back for 6 weeks and went home after 6 months of rehab at the Auckland Spinal Unit, to my family home in Mangere Bridge. I was introduced to a computer and learned to use sticks for typing. I finished my Quarry Manager’s Diploma and did 2 basic computer programming courses but all else was self taught.

While newly injured, Grant Sharman, who is now one of the senior mouth artists in New Zealand, suggested my taking up art, namely painting with my mouth. Having been a quarry manager before my accident, I decided to persist with computers, with the ambition of getting employment back in the quarry industry. This I achieved and have been back at my old quarry (12 to 20 hours per week) as an office clerk, mainly putting my previous knowledge to paper. I have now been associated with Winstone’s Puketutu Quarry for 28 years. This will end however when production ends in May/June this year.

Through my involvement with TASC (The Association for Spinal Concerns) I have had contact with many artists, especially Wayne Te Rangi who is also on TASC’s committee. In 2003, Wayne was generous enough to act as our art tutor for classes at the spinal unit. It inspired me to try mouth painting and I found I had a skill that I had never dreamed of. What’s more, I really enjoy it. Since then I have continued the paint mostly landscapes, some flowers or still life.

I was accepted for a scholarship by MFPA in September 2004. Since then I have joined the local Mangere Bridge Art group, for weekly gatherings and employ a professional tutor for one on one lessons. Soon my association with Winstone Aggs will end and then I can dedicate most of my time to painting, as long as my health holds up.

I lead quite a full life, working three afternoons at Winstone’s, volunteering two afternoons per week at the Auckland spinal unit, tutoring art, including Mouth Painting, computers, and teach Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
Art is now my way of expressing myself and I hope others enjoy my paintings.

Murray Cohen