The Insightful & Inspiring David New
INTRODUCTION: 1:07 min.
Sixteen years ago, a rare disease rendered David New deaf, blind and paralyzed from the waist down. Rejecting his doctors’ terminal diagnosis, defying all odds, David learned to walk again and gradually regained his hearing, though he did not regain his sight. He has since become a steadfast advocate for people with disabilities, creates works of art in glass, founded several companies and non-profits, and has recently embarked on a new venture, the South Beach Jazz Festival, which ran December 7 – 11, following on the heels of Art Basel Miami Beach 2016.
As a fundraiser for Power Access, David’s non-profit organization, the South Beach Jazz Festival is an event unlike any other. “Each musical performance will showcase the artistry of at least one person with a disability,” said New. “The sheer talent of the artists will promote the festival’s dual goal, to entertain, and to define others by ability rather than disability. The festival is all about bringing our community together through the universal sound of music.”
David New was born and raised in Philadelphia and began his university studies at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He continued his education at the Tyler School of Art, Temple University, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. New worked in his family’s furniture business while creating his own interior design firm, R. David New Interior Design. He relocated to South Florida in 2002 and continued pursuing his passion for art and design.
New works tirelessly to break down barriers and to educate people about living and working with people who have disabilities. In addition to serving as president of Power Access Inc. and Ability Explosion®, he was chairman of the Miami Beach Disability Access Committee for six years until January, 2016. As founder of the Miami Beach Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the Florida Council and the American Council of the Blind, New is now the organization’s treasurer. In 2012, he started to lead Access Now Inc., which is an advocacy organization for the enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Through Power Access and Access Now, his two non-profit organizations, New provides programs and produces experiential events centered around building awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities, including Dining in the Dark, Disability Awareness Day and the South Beach Jazz Festival.
New was recently able to rekindle his passion for making visual art when he learned about a new 3-D laser technology for creating laser-edged glass sculptures. He designs the concept, the imagery, dimensions and presentations, as well as the polished stainless steel bases and glass specifications for each sculpture.
The videos below are organized by topic and run between 30 seconds and 3 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.
EDUCATION: 0:38 sec.
OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED: 1:00 min.
SELF CONFIDENCE 0:56 sec.
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 1:34 min.
CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND: 1:53 min.
SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES: 2:32 min.
CRITICAL THINKING: 1:14 min.
COLLABORATION: 1:56 min.
COLLABORATION: 2:54 min.
COLLABORATION: 1:08 min.
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 0:49 sec.
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION 1:16 min.
