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Whitaker Report

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WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART The Whitaker Report TO DONORS SUPPORTERS PATRONS

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COVER The Chair 2000 20x16 inches Oil on Canvas Table of Contents THE WHITAKER REPORT TO DONORS SUPPORTERS PATRONS 2 01 WELCOME PAGE 5 02 DEFYING THE ODDS PAGE 6 03 MY EXPERIENCE PAGE 10 04 BY THE NUMBERS PAGE 12 05 SOLO EXHIBITIONS PAGE 16 06 OTHER MAJOR EVENTS PAGE 18 07 TOUR DE FORCE PAGE 20 08 GRACE NOTES PAGE 24 Faith 2019 48x60 inches Acrylic on Canvas EXHIBITION Faith WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 3

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Pandemonium 2020 24x32 inches Acrylic Oil Pen Felt Pen on Canvas EXHIBITION Pandemonium Welcome This Report is for you the hundreds of donors and supporters who have accompanied me on my painting journey Who knew that a diagnosis of an incurable illness eight years ago would prove so stimulating I certainly would not have expected that my work as a painter would raise almost 190 000 for research and causes in support of Parkinson s and Lewy Body Dementia We Have Ignition 2020 35x22 inches Acrylic Felt Pen on Canvas I hope you enjoy reviewing this report as much as I have treasured your friendship and support I am indebted and grateful Kevin Whitaker June 2022 EXHIBITION Pandemonium 4 WELCOME WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 5

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Defying The Odds I retired as a Judge of the Superior Court of Ontario following a diagnosis in 2015 of Parkinson s with Lewy Body Dementia This diagnosis prompted a rapid assessment of life priorities early retirement for both me and my life partner Marie Moliner and a travel itinerary that proved exhausting and exhilarating It was during a short stay in Santa Barbara California 2018 that my dabbling as a painter shifted to large scale works on 3 canvases These paintings including The Dictator launched my first show Chasing Monsters in April 2018 at Toronto s Back Lane Studios The Dictator 2018 48x72 inches Acrylic on Canvas EXHIBITION Chasing Monsters 6 DEFYING THE ODDS WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 7

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Realizing that my passion to paint drives my daily living Marie has become my agent and caregiver 5 years later I have Had 8 solo shows Raised almost 190K for research and related causes Sold over 200 paintings Attended the Oaxaca Film Festival where the film about me Chasing Monsters was a finalist Launched a website KevinWhitaker Art Opened an online store which sells my prints and cards We identified a goal of fundraising for research into a disease which kills most within 8 years of diagnosis I am at year 8 I am very much alive Being a painter is a new job I never would have imagined before my diagnosis Locks 2019 24x36 inches Acrylic on Canvas 8 DEFYING THE ODDS EXHIBITION Faith WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 9

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My Experience of These Diseases Parkinson s Dementia with Lewy Bodies An autopsy revealed that comedian Robin Williams brain was riddled with Lewy bodies In fact doctors were amazed he was able to function at the level he did before he died by suicide in 2014 As for me my maternal grandfather died at 74 from complications associated with dementia There is also Parkinson s and one non autopsy diagnosis of Dementia with Lewy Bodies in the family So when I was diagnosed with depression in 2014 I sensed there was more going on Later I reversed the car into a tree in our driveway in North Hatley My brain was no longer as reliable Our daughter noticed it first Marie said I would act out my dreams and hit her in my sleep This symptom known as REM sleep behaviour disorder was the clincher for my neurologist who then diagnosed Parkinson s with Lewy Bodies My symptoms have ebbed and flowed Early on I noticed a loss of memory car keys kept hiding Words failed me and I was unable to do simple calculations Fortunately medication has stabilized these symptoms Painting has also helped in ways that can only be described as transcendent I continue to have difficulties with planning and organising Like many with dementia there are marked fluctuations in my ability to pay attention There are also changes to my temporal and spatial perception My previously stellar driving record was marred when I rammed the Thule into the entrance of an underground parking lot in Kingston I decided to give up driving in 2018 I seem to have less difficulty than some with short term memory although I often experience aphasia difficulty finding the right words and I can easily lose a train of thought Pre diagnosis I was definitely depressed and anxious which was quite unusual for me Post diagnosis I felt some relief in knowing what was going on My sleep patterns have fluctuated A few years back I felt a need to walk around at night Luckily that urge has stopped I do rest a lot 12 14 hours a day My visual hallucinations come and go They started with a white cat and ramped up in 2018 becoming aggressive characters who would talk loudly about me That was the year I had a psychotic episode when I was convinced I was being incarcerated against my will Strong antipsychotics work Painting seems to help I have Anosognosia a lack of ability to perceive the realities of my condition despite the diagnosis I deny this My low blood pressure and low blood volume wreak havoc with my life This is partly the disease and partly due to the cocktail of 30 pills I take every day As a result I fall a lot Yes the disease has brought me to my knees I crawl around because it is too painful to walk Both the walker and the wheelchair are cumbersome I am using kneepads I never had much of a sense of smell and that has not changed Research increasingly identifies loss of smell and taste to some extent as precursors to Parkinson s So life is good I am still able to enjoy reading I love listening to music and playing the harmonica and I continue to teach myself the piano As we now live in Quebec even my French is improving And of course my desire to paint remains unquenched What s next The Alzheimer s Society https alzheimer ca en about dementia other types dementia dementia lewy bodies Dementia with Lewy bodies accounts for between 5 and 15 of all dementia cases It occurs because of abnormal deposits of protein deposits or Lewy bodies and typically affects the areas of the brain that involve thinking and movement The builtup mass of Lewy bodies block messages between brain cells leading to dementia Lewy bodies are also found in Parkinson s disease Dementia with Lewy bodies can occur in the same person alongside Alzheimer s disease or Parkinson s disease Unlike Alzheimer s disease memory loss may not occur at the early stages of the disease 10 MY EXPERIENCE No single test can diagnose Dementia with Lewy bodies Doctors typically diagnose Dementia with Lewy bodies by eliminating other diseases and conditions that cause similar symptoms Doctors do not know what causes Dementia with Lewy bodies However Lewy bodies have a protein that is also seen in Parkinson s disease suggesting the conditions may be linked in some way If a family member has Dementia with Lewy bodies you may have a higher risk of developing the disease Dementia with Lewy bodies is more common in men than in women There is no cure for Dementia with Lewy bodies And yet I am truly happy I continue to say that I am not sure I would change anything if I had a choice This disease is not fun However I am having fun Marie makes sure of that I spend time with family and friends eat well and exercise in whatever way my body allows me to usually pedalling on an old school recumbent bicycle While the disease haunts our two children and slowly steals me from them they have learned to find humour in my erratic behaviour watching me do the Lewy body slide under the dinner table get lost in my living room and enjoy crass culture such as Trailer Park Boys Baroness von Sketch and Kids in the Hall AquaGirl 2019 24x36 inches Acrylic on Canvas EXHIBITION Surveillance WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 11

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200 Paintings Major Events 5 190K By the Numbers Part 1 These numbers tell my story thanks to your support and generous donations 200 paintings sold Almost 190K raised Over 300 online donations 12 Major events including 8 solo shows 5 partners including 2 hospitals Almost 5000 web visitors from 25 countries Almost 1500 cards and prints sold 12 Major Partners Funds Raised 300 Donors 4 923 Site Visitors Media coverage includes CBC Radio s Metro Morning CBC TV CTV The Globe and Mail Metro News the Sherbrooke Record and The Townships Sun Still Life Flowers 2020 12x12 inches Acrylic Oil Stick on Canvas 1 250 Cards Sold 25 Country Visits 110 Limited Edition Prints EXHIBITION Pandemonium 12 BY THE NUMBERS WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 13

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Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation 154 000 Toronto Western Hospital Foundation 16 000 Parkinson s Canada 10 000 By The Numbers Part 2 France Parkinson s Orgs 2 000 Back Lane Studios 6 600 You may know I love pie cherry pie in particular This pie chart makes me happy too It is what YOU made possible I paint You buy paintings prints and cards You donate Since 2018 we have raised almost 190 000 in donations that have been put to very good use 154 000 Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation 16 000 Toronto Western Hospital Mobility Disorders Clinic 10 000 Parkinson s Canada local chapters 2 000 France Parkinson s organizations 6 600 Back Lane Studios The funds raised have primarily been targeted to the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation which has established the Kevin Whitaker and Marie Moliner Fellowship into cognitive and movement disorders Stay tuned for more on this work In Kind Contributions 150 000 We have also received over 150K of in kind contributions including many many volunteer hours 14 BY THE NUMBERS WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 15

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01 CHASING MONSTERS 8 Solo Exhibitions 03 SURVEILLANCE Atelier Maison Richelieu France 2018 Back Lane Studios Toronto 2018 02 BELLA CIAO Back Lane Studios Toronto 2018 04 THE LAST SUPPER 05 FAITH Gillygooly Hatley Quebec 2019 Back Lane Studios Toronto 2019 0 7 CO U R AG E 06 PANDEMONIUM Virtual Show 2020 16 SOLO EXHIBITIONS Gillygooly Hatley Quebec 2021 08 REVERIE Back Lane Studios Toronto 2021 WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 17

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LAUNCH OF MARCH MADNESS AND ONLINE STORE Other Major Events March 2021 FESTIVALS DOCUMENTARIES COMMISSIONS OAXACA FILM FESTIVAL DOCUMENTARY CHASING MONSTERS Revue Cinema 1 December Oaxaca Mexico October 2019 Finalist Premieres at Revue Cinema December 2018 DOCUMENTARY Chasing Monsters Parkinson s and the Power of Art featuring Kevin Whitaker PR0 GRAM ME 11 00 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 11 05 OPENING REMARKS 11 15 DOCUMENTARY 11 35 PANEL TALK AND Q A 12 15 CURATOR INTRODUCES BELLA CIAO 12 30 PAINTING SHOW 2 30PM CLOSING WALK ACROSS THE STREET QUEEN S UNIVERSITY TRIPTYCH Kingston Ontario October 2019 18 OTHER MAJOR EVENTS WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 19

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Tour de Force Copper Road 2019 17x26 inches Acrylic on Canvas There is no doubt that my next show motivates me to get up every day and paint or at least to think about painting Truth be told painting is more difficult for me now I have less stamina and my legs are not listening to my brain I look forward to my wheelchair being covered in paint as it propels me from indoor to outdoor studio I feel like a Rock star Twelve major events under my belt in under 5 years including 8 solo shows in Canada and one in France Each show represents an evolution in my work Chasing Monsters Toronto 2018 The Last Supper Quebec 2018 Bella Ciao Toronto 2018 Surveillance France 2019 and Faith Toronto 2019 were a way to get depression and hallucinations out of my system My Queen s PHE 79 buddies supported a 2019 commission of the triptych Queen s Before During and After It now hangs in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies where I hope it will inspire students undergoing their own journey Chasing Monsters Parkinson s and the Power of Art a 2018 film about my odyssey was selected by 4 film festivals in 3 countries and was a finalist at the 2019 Oaxaca Film Festival 20 EXHIBITION Faith Later this year you will be invited to meet Dr Ana Pinto Oliveira the recipient of the Kevin Whitaker and Marie Moliner Research Fellow into cognitive and movement disorders Am I established as a painter and fundraiser You tell me I have painted over 300 works since 2018 and raised close to 190 000 through their promotion and sale Many of you have purchased my works some from each show Many of you have ordered prints and greeting cards Many of you have generously donated Every one of you is contributing to my overall health and well being Thank you TOUR DE FORCE WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 21

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Freefall 2020 30x40 inches Acrylic on Canvas In 2020 I painted prolifically during the early months of the pandemic as my anxiety and hallucinations ramped up significantly Marie says I should not have been watching Contagion Our first online art show Pandemonium 2020 sold out That led to March Madness which launched our online store Last summer Courage my second show at Gillylgooly gallery in Quebec s Eastern Townships was a smashing success Reverie my 8th show was held in November 2021 at Back Lane Studios a venue which feels like home EXHIBITION Pandemonium This 8th show took me by surprise I did not know I had it in me I hope viewers are intrigued Lost in contemplation my reverie includes playing harmonica on stage with Neil Young painting the largest canvas ever and a trip down the Grand Canal with Marie All these events would not have been possible without Marie and a host of helpful people whose support and encouragement have given me the courage to dream that I will conquer this disease Lost 2018 20x30 inches Acrylic on Canvas EXHIBITION Faith 22 TOUR DE FORCE WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 23

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Going to Go Go 2020 12x16 inches Acrylic Felt Pen on Wood Coming Soon EXHIBITION Pandemonium More on the Kevin Whitaker Marie Moliner Fellowship in Parkinson s and Lewy Body Dementia Research Another documentary about us Still Headroom The Power of Caregiving will premiere in 2022 My 9th show in Toronto this November 24th to Dec 4th Who knows maybe I will have a summer show I am working on new paintings Grace Notes Marie gets me up in the morning and you keep me going with your calls emails and visits Your interest in my paintings your comments on our social media your camaraderie all these gestures make me feel alive Whether you are a donor a repeat customer a supporter offering encouragement from the sidelines a friend who has gone the distance or one of the many healthcare workers who have given me hope health and so many more years of good living than I dreamed possible your role makes a difference in how I live every day I have accomplished my objective of establishing a Research Fellowship Marie and I will now turn our attention to supporting the work on neurocognitive diseases being done closer to home in Quebec We wish you a summer and fall filled with long overdue family gatherings and visits with friends Until then Au revoir 24 GRACE NOTES WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART 25

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Photo by Marta Iwanek The Globe Mail Kevin Whitaker REPORT TO DONORS SUPPORTERS PATRONS WWW KEVINWHITAKER ART

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