RACHEL MINDRUP

RACHEL MINDRUP

  • About
    • Biography
    • Curriculum Vitae - Exhibitions
    • Awards, Honors, Grants & Residencies
    • Artist Talks / Presentations / Workshops
    • Bibliography
    • Curatorial Work
  • Many Faces of Neurofibromatosis (NF)
    • NF1 ~ Portraits
      • Statement
      • Oil Portraits NF1 (United States)
      • Oil Portraits NF1 (Worldwide)
      • Watercolor Portraits of NF
    • NF2 ~ Portraits
      • Oil Portraits NF2 (United States)
      • Oil Portraits NF2 (Worldwide)
      • Watercolor Portraits
    • NF ~ State Show Collections
      • NF ~ Arizona
      • NF ~ Missouri
      • NF ~ Nebraska
        • Drawings from Life
        • Paintings
      • NF ~ Tennessee
    • NF ~ In Memoriam
      • NF1 Memorials
      • NF2 Memorials
    • NF ~ Marriage
    • NF ~ Kids' Oil Portraits
    • Ashok Shrestha's NF Transformation
      • Drawings
      • Paintings
      • Monotypes
      • Ashok's Visits
  • The Art of Medicine
    • Painting / Drawing
    • Printmaking / Intaglio
  • The Boys
  • Solo Exhibitions
    • 2025
      • International Museum of Surgical Science, Chicago
      • Blanden Memorial Art Museum
      • Gallery 92 West
      • CHI Bergan Mercy Hospital
    • 2024
      • Permission to Stare - Mayo Clinic - Scottsdale
    • 2023
      • See Me: Portraits of NF, Rockhurst University
      • Portraits of NF2 - Deming Gallery, Creighton
      • Murfree Gallery
      • Many Faces of NF: Positive Exposure - NYC
    • 2022
      • Scanxiety: Life Between the Scans - Hot Shops Art Gallery
      • NF Tennessee - Vanderbilt University
      • Permission to Stare: Living with Neurofibromatosis - Creighton University Phoenix
    • 2021
      • Many Faces of NF: Good Samaritan Hospital
      • NF: Kansas and Missouri
      • Neurofibromatosis: A Portrait of Nebraska - Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts
      • Many Faces of NF: Stocksdale Gallery
    • 2020
      • Neurofibromatosis and a Portrait of 1 in 3000 - Creighton University
    • 2019
      • Neurofibromatosis: The People, Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art
      • Many Faces of NF - Hibbing Community College
      • Many Faces of NF: Carnegie Arts Center
    • 2018
      • Many Faces of NF: Norfolk Arts Center
      • Washington University School of Medicine
      • Governor's Mansion - Lincoln, Nebraska
    • 2017
      • Bryan Medical Center
      • Portrait of a Disorder: Neurofibromatosis - KCAC
    • 2016
      • Portrait of a Disorder: Neurofibromatosis - Creighton University
    • 2015
      • Many Faces of NF - Portraits of Neurofibromatosis - UNO
    • 2014
      • Rachel Mindrup: Many Faces of NF - Northwestern College
      • Many Faces of NF - UNK
      • Many Faces of NF - UNL
    • 2013
      • Neuro Art Culture - UNL
  • Paintings / Drawings
    • Oil Paintings
      • Figurative Works
      • Still Lifes
    • Drawings
      • 5 Hour Portraits
      • The Body
  • Airport Sketching
  • Children's Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
John Lighting the Stage
Oak Ridge, Tennessee ~ 2022
Oil on Canvas
30" x 24"
John Bucholz was diagnosed with NF at birth and is the only one of his parent’s three children to have it. He inherited it from his mother, and she from her father. As John went through grade school, it was discovered that he required an exceptionally long time to complete his homework. His learning disability, though perhaps mild, has been present enough that it has always affected him through school, college, and in his working days, all leading to social and career shortcomings. John has a somewhat slower processing speed, trouble learning and remembering new information, and trouble organizing and verbalizing his thoughts. Neuropsychological evaluations have noted findings consistent with diagnosis of a learning disorder.

In 2005, an MRI revealed a small cystic lesion, likely a pilocytic astrocytoma, in the pons of the brainstem. Though seemingly asymptomatic for years, it warranted follow-up MRIs every 6 to 12 months. Each scan showed about the same as the previous one until early 2013. His neuro-oncologist, Dr. Paul Moots, prescribed two different types of chemotherapy pills that year, followed by radiation treatments in Spring 2014. Nevertheless, the cyst continued to expand and by now was compressing onto the brainstem. It was around this time that John began having problems with his balance and difficulty walking. A sensation of tingling numbness that started in his right fingers slowly worked its way up further into his hand; then by late 2014 his right arm, leg, and foot too. A simple task such as picking-up an object or buttoning a shirt became a challenge. His handwriting was now atrocious. He was also beginning to experience double vision.

John had two craniotomies at Vanderbilt in Spring 2015 to remove the pontine cyst; what his neurosurgeon would describe as “an incredibly complex neurosurgical problem”. This was followed by an intense headache which prompted a third hospital stay and a diagnosis of meningitis.

For the past 15 years or so, John has volunteered with a local community theater, the Oak Ridge Playhouse. His experience includes over 40 productions, working backstage in any one of a variety of positions: stage manager, assistant stage manager, follow spotlight, light board operator, deck crew, and the props team. John’s favorite position for musical productions is operating one of the spotlights in the theater’s catwalk. From this somewhat-private balcony vantage point, he can contribute directly to the show with the added benefit of viewing the show. He is a self-described “spotlight hog” -only not in the light, but behind it.