Limited Edition Trina Kruger Tote

      As a part of NYC Access for All 2024 fundraiser, we made a tote featuring the artwork of Trina Kruger (1920-2020).   Trina Kruger was born in Canton, Ohio.  She was one of seven children and while she was disabled by her congenital deafness, her innate talent and artistic ability allowed her to communicate via other means.  Through her hand-made greeting cards, decoupage work and pen and ink drawings, well-loved and always collected, Trina was adored for the charmed creations she made. 

 

      This graphic was taken from one of her earliest greeting cards -an assemblage of cut-out shapes glued together to portray a whimsical vase and floral arrangement.

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    As a disabled person, she,  like so many deaf people back in the day, was subjected to the phrase “deaf and dumb."  She-like her deaf husband, was considered a 2nd class citizen - treated as valueless and ‘impaired’.  But Trina refused to allow others to shape her identity; like the Little Engine That Could, she persevered making untold numbers of cards which were sent on every occasion, every holiday, and just because!

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     Ours remains a culture where elders and the disabled are still considered disposable and not worthy of equal treatment.  However,  the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), ratified in 2010, was acted upon for people exactly like Trina.  Discrimination against the disabled, whether from voting to parking, is illegal.  Trina fought to be treated as an equal before such laws were enshrined; now it is left to us to ensure no one is faced with obstructions to equal public access or any different treatment because of a persons protected disability characteristic.

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$35 per tote. Only 20 bags produced.

All proceeds are tax deductible. 

Only available at our Queens 2024 Fundraiser!