Imagine being an artist restricted creatively because of a birth defect, illness, or serious injury that left your hands unusable. Not only would you be unable to write your name but also would you be unable to express yourself through drawing, painting, sculpting, or other art media. As a result, you would be forced to find other forms of relaxation and other sources of income. Fortunately, an organization allowing disabled painters to still create works of art and receive a fixed income has existed since 1956. Erich Stegmann, a polio-stricken mouth painter, established the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (AMFPA) when he gathered a group of disabled artists from eight European countries in hopes of making a living through their artistic efforts and of gaining a sense of financial security. The association has since developed into a cooperative organization that reproduces its member artists’ work, mostly in the form of cards, calendars, and books. The AMFPA, which conducts its affairs from Liechtenstein, boasts almost 650 members from over 70 countries, including the United States, Great Britain, France, and Canada. Since 1961, the they have been operating in the US; the headquarters building, originally located in Buffalo, NY, moved to Atlanta, GA, in July 2000. Members of the MFPA in the USA are also members of the International Association. Currently, more than 60 disabled artists from the United States are working.
The MFPA is a for-profit institution; it exists for the sole purpose of providing a stable income for the member artists. Their disabilities place the artists in a position that would normally cause them to worry about their financial situation. The organization, however, allows each member to receive a fixed salary, even if he or she reaches a state that prevents him or her from continuing to create sellable work.
Three levels make up the Association: Student Member, Associate Member, and Full Member; all members must have lost the use of their hands, and paint by holding the brush with their mouths or feet. When artists are accepted as student members, the association provides a grant to pay for tuition and art supplies to help the artist be successful with his or her work. A panel of assessors, consisting of the MFPA President and two other prominent and recognized able-bodied artists, evaluate the students’ work periodically until they reach a level equivalent to that of a non-disabled artist. Once approved by the panel, the managing board can admit the new member/student, a decision that becomes subject to ratification at the next delegates’ convention.
Two such members who continue to make a mark on the artistic world and inspire those around them are Dennis Francesconi and Chris Huemiller.
“Birds of Paradise in Abstract”
by Fransesconi
At the age of 17, Francesconi broke his neck during a water skiing accident, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. During his rehabilitation, he began writing to express his emotions and to recapture his identity after given encouragement by his future wife, Kristi. Frustration soon got the better of him, however, because he could only scribble “X”, so he grabbed the pen with his teeth one day and wrote his name. Writing by mouth soon evolved into doodling, which became painting as his talent developed. After meeting an MFPA artist, he applied to the Association and was admitted as a student in 1993. In 1999, he was promoted to a full member, allowing him to fulfill his lifelong dream of coming off Social Security support. Dennis has participated in over 70 shows and constantly inspire others with his meaningful work. He also speaks to groups and continues to enlighten others with his story of rebirth.




“Re-Born”
by Chris Huemiller
Chris Huemiller was born in 1955 in Pontiac, Michigan. When he was 26 years old, he injured his spine in a swimming accident that left him with limited use of his arms. Chris has always been interested in art, and at the time of his accident he was involved with automotive and motorcycle restoration and customization, including custom painting for which he would sketch ideas. After the accident, Chris gave up drawing until he read a book about a quadriplegic who painted by holding a brush in her mouth and saw an artist on TV paint the same way. Chris has progressed as an artist and says, “Painting has helped me turn my life around. My motto is improve and overcome.”
The MFPA has allowed painters like Dennis and Chris from all over the world to become self-sufficient and no longer dependent on others for financial aid. An organization bent on supporting oneself, the Mouth and Foot Painting Association stays true to its motto: Self Help-Not Charity.
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