In any capacity,business or personal,certainty isa rare thing. Planningfor the futureis always beneficial,but as we all know,plans do change. Itis what we makeof the change andhow we adapt, adjustor remold to itthat makes all thedifference. RobertRehm is an exceptionalexample ofhow one can accept,adapt andovercome changeand be an inspirationto us all.
A personally autographed photo of Paul McCartney with acaption bubble saying ‘Cool’ popping out of his mouth, hangs in aframe on Robert Rehm’s wall. ‘Cool’ is a great way to describe Rehm,but it is all too modest…even if it is from Sir Paul McCartney. ButRehm takes the compliment, and humbly acknowledges what hehas to be proud of. The photo that Rehm received from the formerBeatle was sent to him after he created and designed a popular Tshirtentitled “Eat–No Animal” for the PETA Organization. McCartneyproudly chose to wear the tee in a series of ads for PETA, andin his recent music video “Nod your Head”. The shout out is just thecherry–on–top to Rehm, to whom the true satisfaction comes fromknowing just what he’s accomplished.
Fifty–five year–old Robert Rehm is a quadriplegic, paralyzedfrom the neck down, needing a respirator in order to breathe. Itwas only a little over three years ago on March 10, 2005, that Rehmbecame confined to his wheelchair. A former theater arts teacherat Thomas Jefferson High School, where he taught for nine years,Rehm suffered the accident while rehearsing for UIL. Tripping overa violin case he fell five feet down into the orchestra pit severing hisspinal cord. Rehm’s active brain could no longer communicate withthe rest of his body, though his skull protected his brain. Throughmuch wearying physical therapy, Rehm has come a long way in thelast three years. “I have had to slowly re–learn ways of doing things,”says Rehm.
Since he can remember he has always been an artist. Aftergraduating from Texas State University with a major in Theater andminor in Arts, he went on to be a successful graphic artist and professionalillustrator for 20 years. Rehm delved into many other pursuits,expressing his creativity through mural and set design, as wellas theater direction. His willingness to creatively push himself intonew territory is what has constantly challenged Rehm and makeshim still able to create, even with the physical boundaries. “I havealways made my living as an artist long before teaching. I push myself to still be involved in creative projects. I can’t just sit here andbe a vegetable,” says Rehm. “There were obvious tasks that I couldno longer perform, but I chose to concentrate on all the things thatI could do.”
After the accident Rehm’s friends rallied around him, makingsure that he stayed involved in new projects. His friends at Jump–Start Performance Co. gave him the push to continue doing whathe loves. “It was peer pressure, they had enough faith in me, whichwas great,” says Rehm. With the help of his full–time nurses he challengeshimself every day. Controlling his movements by breathing,he can sip–and–puff his way around in his electric wheelchair. As heblows or sucks through his straw–like chute attached to his chair hecan do things such as wheel himself around, send an email, createdigital art on his computer and even produce abstract wheel paintings.
This past July Robert’s first one–man show of work was featuredat The Jump–Start Theatre, titled “Hot Wheels and Hot Lips”. He,along with the help of his friends, got to work painting. Large whitecanvases were taped to the floor and small pools of different coloredpaints were laid in the corners, then Rehm started carefullycrafting his vision, with his wheels as his brush and his breath as hishands. He also fashions special images that he designs from a stencilon his computer. With his paintings he promotes anti–war imageryand relief of global poverty. Robert is also still active in theaterand stays busy writing scripts, teaching workshops, and designingsets and costumes. “I miss the hands on creativity. It’s hard to communicateverbally when directing. So my communication has to bevery precise,” says Rehm.
Rehm has accepted his new life, and adapted to the changesthat have come. “After the accident, I had to prove to myself I wasstill going to be a contribution to society, continue to push the envelopeand dream big,” says Rehm. The true mark of an artist is onewho can use their voice technically and artistically within a rangethat is imbued with difficulty. Rehm proves this every day, creating,inspiring and refusing to let the man and the mind be idle. “I haveovercome triumphs on many levels: mental, physical and spiritual.If I can inspire someone, that is the greatest gift I can imagine.”
