The Artists
The New Lens participants of the 2022 program are all individuals who have a spinal cord injury. We hope you enjoy the glimpses into each artist's life as you move through the gallery. We encourage you to think about the story the artists may be conveying in each photo, and the techniques and styles they utilized to do so. We hope that you enjoy the art the participants have created from the stories happening around them, and that, in turn, you will be inspired to reflect on the stories you can observe in your own life through a new lens.
Mandy Gilbreath
My earliest memory of photography is going to charity events with my best friend’s mom and dressing up as different characters. I vividly remember walking around the event taking pictures of people who had cancer or were cancer free.
Karla Ruelas
Hello Everyone! My name Karla, Karla with a K. It’s been eight months since my life changed. Although, I roll in wheels now I’m still the same old Karla, fun, spunky, determined, humble and helpful. Learning to live with a spinal cord injury is not easy but I do try every day to make the best of it. I didn’t think I would enjoy photography again but I am happy I did this class and excited to show my life through my eyes.
Bryce Sauser
I’m 37 years old I was injured six years ago. I’m from League City, I’m currently still living there. I’ve always been interested in photography this group has helped me bring it out. I love to be outdoors, working out in my home gym, riding my hand cycle and hanging out with my family. I’m a fun and loving individual. I mostly spend my day on my computer, working out and just hanging out.
Christopher Sotelo
I’m a 33 year old artist from Houston, Texas. In 2010, I broke my neck in a diving accident that left me a C6 complete quadriplegic. Life has been quite the wild journey since my injury. I have found a sense of comfort and escape when creating new pieces of art and sharing them with the world. I enjoy taking in the beauty that is the world around me and I hope to continue to contribute to it.
Mason Spellings
My name is Mason Spellings. I am 32 years old, born and raised in Houston Texas. Photography has always been a passion and a great way to capture/share my active lifestyle. I love how photography gives me the ability to manipulate and control the way I am experiencing the world. When I’m not at home cooking dinner with my wife and binging Netflix, I enjoy going out with my friends to concerts and trying new restaurants. I love exercising in my home gym and am always looking for the next new accessible toy or accessory to give me more independence and freedom. Photography allows me to tell my story and share massive amounts of information that typically cannot be put into words. Why describe something when you could simply share an image?
Chad Waligura
I'm a 53 year old C-7 quad from El Campo, Tx. I've also been a TIRR Peer for the past 25 years, or more, which was created to help new patients adjust to life after injury. I've always been an outdoorsman and that's where most of my passions reside, so it was only natural that photography fit right in among them. My latest adventure is a video series called Able Outdoors, and in developing our footprint on social media, photography has become increasingly more important in order to tell our story. I hope you enjoy some of the snapshots in time of my life through the lens.
