Alder Crocker: Becoming a Professional Artist After Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury

Kessler Foundation Podcasts

World Art Day with Alder Crocker Read the transcript at https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Alder%20Crocker_Becoming%20a%20Professional%20Artist%20After%20Traumatic%20Brain%20and%20Spine%20Injury-TRANSCRIPT.pdf Imagine never holding a paint brush or working with a canvas, but after traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, becoming a master artist. Podcast host Jessica Ganga, communications and digital media coordinator at Kessler Foundation, spoke with Alder Crocker, who while on vacation in May 2018, broke his neck and instantly became 85% paralyzed. During rehab, after four brief art therapy sessions to help improve muscle memory, an artist was born. As soon as Alder had a brush in his hand, images and colors began to flood his consciousness. He later realized he had acquired savant syndrome, when extraordinary abilities suddenly and unexpectedly surface after a non-disabled individual suffers a traumatic brain injury or illness. Before his accident, Alder worked in marketing for 25 years, but was never a creative. He has been a volunteer in many of the Foundation’s research studies since his accident. Learn more about: Alder’s website - https://www.aldercrocker.com Kessler Foundation - https://KesslerFoundation.org Join a study at Kessler Foundation - https://KesslerFoundation.org/join-our-research-studies ======================================================= Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast was recorded remotely on Thursday, March 10 2022, and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.