ENTWINED

The remarkable story of “outsider” artist Judith Scott, who was institutionalized for more than thirty years before being rescued by her sister.

From birth fraternal twins Judith and Joyce Scott lived as if they were one person in two bodies, understanding instinctively what the other wanted and felt, despite the fact that Judith had Down’s syndrome, profound deafness, and never learned to speak or sign. But this idyllic childhood of color, texture, and feeling ended abruptly when, at age 7, Judith was whisked from their shared bed while Joyce slept, not knowing that the wholeness they had known was being shattered. 50 years later, after spending most of her life in state institutions, Judith would be hailed as one of the most important artists of the Twentieth Century. ENTWINED by Joyce Scott, Judith’s twin, takes us on a remarkable journey as Joyce and Judy separately navigate an emotional wilderness of loss and loneliness, until Joyce eventually gains legal custody of her sister at age 40 and enables her to discover her artistic gifts. With unflagging intensity, Judith worked 5 days a week for 18 years, producing over 200 cocoon-like sculptures which today are found in permanent museum collections including the American Folk Art Museum in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, as well as private collections around the world. Judith died in her sister’s arms in March, 2005, having lived 49 years beyond her allotted span at birth, the last 18 in blissful, unrestrained creativity. ENTWINED is a penetrating personal narrative that explores with poetic insight a complex world of disability, loss, reunion and the resiliency of the human spirit. It also highlights the deep connection that binds twins from birth, an undying love that time and distance cannot sever. It is a thought-provoking book with a compelling narrative that carries the reader through the full spectrum of human emotion, balancing heavy grief with light-hearted humor, hope, and inspiration. Joyce Wallace Scott is the twin sister of Judith Scott. As an educator, RN, and developmental specialist, she has worked for many years with children with Down syndrome and other special needs. She splits her time between California and France.