Art Honeyman, Author
Oregon based author and poet Art Honeyman died on Monday, December 8, 2008 while visiting friends in Seattle. He was 68 years old. Honeyman was born with cerebral palsy and spent his life battling the barriers and misconceptions about the disease and its limitations. Honeyman had recently been portrayed in the movie “Music Within” by British actor Michael Sheen.
Honeyman’s life was filled with events considered out of reach for a person with his disability. He got into Portland State University as an undergrad by fighting to be accepted and then went on to get his master’s degree in literature. He wrote the children’s book “Sam and His Cart” which was later made into a movie.
Honeyman was an inspiration to those who knew him and those who read his work. He was known to say, “Don’t feel sorry for me, feel sorry for people who can’t accept me.”
Memorial services in Oregon are pending but to be sure his memory and work will be honored for several generations.
Commentary on the life and death of Art Honeyman
Tags: art honeyman, author death, music within, Sam and his cart
January 27th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Thank you Art for your life, thoes of us who you have touched made us better people.
March 14th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I had the privilege of meeting Art when I was about 10 years old; he went to school with my mother who had returned to college in her forties. Art helped me to see at an early age what was inside him, despite his outer entrapments. He has been a gift of my life, inspiring me to both write and to teach students with disabilities. I miss you, Art, and wish I knew more of your friends.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I just thought Id look up the book as I have a friend with a young reader. I didnt realize Art had passed away. He was my teacher in high school and I learned more from him then many of the other teachers. He was a wonderfull man and had a heart of gold.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Art is an inspiration that will live on. He has touch the lives of so many people to keep going and never let anyone stop you!
October 27th, 2009 at 9:19 am
It has been amazing to see so many people respond and comment to our obituary for Art Honeyman. He was an incredibly influential man around Portland. Just a year ago, he passed away at the age of 68. His friends have not forgotten him. Last Friday, about a 100 of his friends threw a party, honoring Art’s life by telling stories and celebrating a man who created and inspired. Art touched so many people throughout his life – saturday market and Portland state colleagues, fellow protestors, and random strangers he befriended. It is this kind of love and remembrance I think most of us hope to achieve when we pass on.
We at Valley of Life are happy to hear that his friends are still honoring his memory and passing his story onto others.
Read more about the celebration event at http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2009/10/life_as_a_work_of_art_–_art_h.html