Esther Goodhart Brings Dystonia to the Smithsonian

Washington, DC--Esther Goodhart, longtime member of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF), is featured in a special exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. A gala held on September 16, 2011 will celebrate the launch of the exhibit, entitled "Portraiture Now: Asian American Portraits of Encounter."

This exhibition is the Smithsonian's first major showcase of contemporary Asian American portraiture. Through the groundbreaking work of seven artists from around the world, the exhibition offers provocative renditions of the Asian American experience against and beyond the stereotypes that have long obscured the complexity of being Asian in America.

"I'm Korean, I'm Jewish, I'm handicapped, and I'm proud of who I am," says Esther. "It's a thrill for me to be in the Smithsonian. Living in America gives us the luxury to say what we want and be who we are. I don't have to be shy about my dystonia or any part of who I am."

Esther's portrait, taken from the new book Kyopo by Cindy Hwang, is a fierce depiction of perseverance. She stands regally, holding the canes she uses to walk as proudly as if they were scepters.

Esther's dopa-responsive dystonia first surfaced as a toddler as she struggled to learn to walk. Embarrassed by her symptoms, her parents were in denial for years that there was anything medically wrong with her. Esther was not properly diagnosed with dystonia until she was 14 years old.

Esther was born in Texas to a prominent Korean Presbyterian Minister father and an equally devout mother. Feeling like the outcast of her family, Esther found that performing in comedy clubs was a joyful and irreverent way to exorcise her past. Esther has played all of the major clubs in America from New York City to California, and is a member of the famed Friars' Club. She enjoyed success with her one-woman Broadway play Out of the Wheelchair and Into the Fire! Esther hosts the PBS television program Asian America as well as The Jewish Hour on WOR 710 radio. Esther shared her journey in the Winter 2006 issue of the Dystonia Dialogue, and is featured in the book Women of True Grit: Intimate, Informative, Inspirational, by Edie Hand and Tina Savas. Esther resides in Demarest, New Jersey, is married, and has two sons.

Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is an umbrella term used to describe forms of dystonia that respond to a medication called levodopa, which is a synthetic form of the brain chemical dopamine. DRD is characterized by progressive difficulty walking, and may include elements of parkinsonism such as slowness of movement, instability or lack of balance, and, less commonly, tremor of the hands at rest. DRD is frequently misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy. Treatment with levodopa can often result in a dramatic improvement of symptoms.

"Portraiture Now: Asian American Portraits of Encounter" is on display at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery through October 14, 2012.

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