Holly Goodwin: McArdle’s in Everyday Life

Artist Holly Goodwin’s deeply personal work explores the intersection of art, science, and lived experience. A longtime art educator and Fine Arts Department Head at Republic High School, Goodwin creates mixed-media works inspired by the molecular structure of skeletal muscle cells following her 2012 diagnosis of McArdle’s Disease, a rare genetic muscle disorder. Through painting, photography, and installation, she transforms scientific imagery into compelling visual narratives that foster understanding of rare illnesses while reflecting on resilience, research, and the human experience. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience a body of work that is both visually striking and profoundly meaningful.

“I aspire to represent and explore the ‘unseen’ and bring life to the small and intangible building blocks that make up my own body. Adventuring through the lens of a microscope inside of my own tissues  a journey I have documented through my paintings, drawings, collage and multimedia works.  On October 15^th 2012, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called “McArdle’s Disease.” It affects my skeletal muscles and causes constant tiredness and fatigue. Dozens of doctors searched over thirty-three years using hundreds of tests, exams and painful surgeries to diagnose what was wrong with my body. I choose daily to turn this disease into something beautiful and positive and to use it as a vehicle to educate others about invisible disabilities.” – Holly Goodwin