art and Curatorial testimonials:

Anthony Tusler
Photographer/disability arts activist
"Laura’s rich and complex pieces draw upon older aesthetics to make so-called medical equipment appealing and engaging. Even the name Opulent Mobility makes me question the lack of velvet and fur on my wheelchair. But it is not just the tangible sumptuousness of Laura’s pieces that helps me think differently about my chair. She makes me question why I have such a limited conception of these vehicles."

 Leonard Greco
Artist
“…Her (Brody’s) devices might well be described as Humanist contraptions; they ennoble the less-conventionally abled and delight the eye of all who encounter them. Who in fact does not need a Victrola on hand at all times? Brody understands this need and with her characteristic empathy provides such amenities handily. Her work…provides aesthetic and emotional support (and delight) to all who are fortunate enough to encounter it first hand.”

Zeina Baltagi
Artist
“I have had the pleasure of showing in the first installment of Opulent Mobility, a group show curated by A. Laura Brody. The exhibit was centered on human challenges with mobility and the enhancement of mobility aids and prosthetics….Laura’s art and curatorial work carries the very important conversation of what it is like to live with a disability and how enhancing mobility aids functionally and decoratively influences the person using them.
… Laura thoroughly thinks about her audience of mobility aid users and non-users. She is always honest and compassionate in how she approaches others and has the determination to carry the conversation deeper. She has a way of making people comfortable and excited about the possibilities of enhancing people’s lives for the better.”

Peter Soby
Writer/director/mouth painter
(Peter was the first user of the Edwardian Cyborg Wheelchair “Driven”.)
“…It really put my mind at ease that at the last moment, Laura was still doing everything she could to accommodate me even to the possible detriment of her artistic vision. That told me that she had enough confidence in her artistry and knew the chair alone could represent her vision with me in my costume sitting in my usual chair.
All in all, it was a truly wonderful experience for me to have had the opportunity to be living art and furthermore, living art created by A. Laura Brody. Her artistry, her passion and her heart are all amazing things to behold and embrace.”

design and teaching testimonials:

Kate Conklin
Performance coach
"Laura is one of the very finest educators I have ever encountered! Her incredibly deep knowledge combined with a playful attitude reveals the irreverence and fluency of a true master. I consider myself unbelievably lucky to learn from Laura (my closet is transformed after only a few lessons!) and to have her as a colleague in education. In lessons I get such clear information about specifics, but also about the underlying principles that have historically eluded me. When I'm working on my own, I can hear Laura's voice saying "Yes, you can do that- and here are some ways how!"  Knowing Laura has totally transformed my perception of what's possible, and validated what I always suspected was possible but didn't have a process for- now I have a process."

McKerrin Kelly
Actor/director
“As someone who has been both draped and an audience member at another draping event, I have to say I find both experiences equally entertaining and informative.  Having someone throw an old men's shirt and a random remnant of shiny fabric on you and then whip out a pair of scissors and an industrial stapler could be seen by some as a perhaps a bit odd or even unsettling.  But Laura's entertaining play by play keeps you involved and inspired while she effortlessly and seemingly randomly cuts away chunks of fabric, drapes and staples a totally new, exciting 'instant designer' garment right on you as you stand there. Voila!  Fun New Outfit! …Laura's easy going style always lets the rest of us feel like we're capable of creating something magical even if we might not have her talented designer brain. "

Opulent Mobility by A. Laura Brody is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License