Musician, Artist Sees Challenges As Possibilities Not Barriers

Kay Panovec

Dustin Clark cannot imagine a life without music and art. Even at an early age, he was never interested in what was popular but rather what was possible. This attitude was helpful when, at 10 years old, Dustin was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. 

Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited diseases in which the muscles that control movement progressively weaken. In some forms of this disease, the heart and other organs are also affected.  Dustin has Becker Muscular Dystrophy which affects only 1 in 30,000 males. 

“Disabled people are creative because we must exist in a world that was not built for us,” Dustin said. “I was born a creative, natural-born problem solver.” 

His curiosity, problem-solving skills and passion for music and art have helped him adapt his living environment in such a way that he is able to access all he needs to make music and work in the visual arts. 

“Limitations breed creativity,” he said.  Though he is inspired by other musicians, Dustin is more interested in creating his own music than to play someone else’s.

 “I started out as a songwriter and started getting into electronic music rather than the physical instrument, partly due to muscular strength.  It can be frustrating not to play the guitar as well as I would like, but I have found other ways,” he said.

Although he has some physical limitations, he accesses guitars that hang from the ceiling and can be hoisted out of the way when Dustin is not using them. Computer software helps him create the sounds he needs to make his form of progressive rock. 

Dustin, a native of Central Ohio, holds a two-year degree in Digital Design and Graphics from Columbus State. This summer, he graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design.  

Admittedly, Dustin is not a goal-oriented person but one who is focused on making a meaningful contribution through his music and visual design work. “Being authentic is the most important thing to me,” he said. “Please don’t reduce me to just what you see. I am a human being. I am worthy of respect. I am capable and there is no need to feel sorry for me. I am not hiding from my disability but embracing it as part of who I am.

Dustin Clark is a musician, an artist, a man who sees challenges as possibilities.  His possibilities are endless.

Contact Dustin by phone at 614-753-3680 or email dustin_m_clark@yahoo.com.  Follow him on Instagram @dustinclarkmusic.