ARTIST SPOTLIGHT by JENNIFER LAPKA
Dylan Mortimer
Breathe. Enjoy. He climbed two steps toward his upper-floor New York apartment and paused to catch his breath. Two steps more, pause, catch. He could not wait to see his wife and children who were at home waiting for him. Two steps, pause, catch. He checked his email on his phone so as to not feel like he was wasting time. Two steps, pause, catch. Art reflects life, which is particularly true for artist Dylan Mortimer and his current body of work. Born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), he is currently living and breathing thanks to a third set of donated lungs. According to CFF.org, CF is a progressive genetic disease affecting the lungs and digestive system. “In the lungs, the mucus clogs the airways and traps germs, like bacteria, leading to infections, inflammation, respiratory failure, and other complications. In
62 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | Winter 2019
