[accessibleimage] FW: Blind artist visits local students

Interesting article. 

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Subject: Blind artist visits local students

The Mississippi Press, MS, USA
Thursday, March 08, 2007

Blind artist visits local students

By VETO F. ROLEY

PASCAGOULA -- Ricky Trione amazed art students at Trent Lott Middle
School Wednesday with his paintings. 

The paintings showed remarkable talent for someone who can see. The art
was more amazing, though, because Trione has been blind since 2000, the
victim of two bizarre accidents that took his sight. 

"It's a miracle," said an impressed Angela Pugh. "It's a little hard to
paint when you can't see." 

Trione, a former captain in the U.S. Army, was assigned to Camp Shelby
near Hattiesburg when he lost eyesight in his left eye. He was driving
his Humvee with the window down on U.S. 49 when a logging truck past
him. Debris from the truck came though the window and hit him in the
left eye, causing the retina to detach. 

While he could still see from his right eye, that ended his military
career. However, he was able to take advantage of state programs and get
a counseling position in Alabama. 

Seven years ago, while driving near Stockton, his car overheated. Trione
said he pulled over to the side of the road to take care of his car. 

While he was tending to his car, an 18-wheeler passed him. As it drew
near him, one of the tires exploded. A fragment of the tire hit him in
both eyes, blinding him in the right eye. 

Despite his injuries, Trione said he never got angry, although he did
have some tough times adapting to his injuries. 

"I went through a denial over my sight and grieving period about my loss
of independence," he said. "Church members (at Redeemer Lutheran in
Fairhope, Ala.) and family helped me pull through. But, I realized this
could have happened to anyone." 

The blindness, Trione said, had its good side. 

"It helped me learn to swallow my pride and ask for help," Trione said.
"I learned how to deal with being dependent on others. And, I learned to
depend on God more." 

Today, Trione, who retired as a counselor, travels throughout the area
trying to encourage others through his artwork. 

One of the things Trione thought he lost to the blindness was his
ability to do art. However, in 2005, he met Nancy Raia of the Eastern
Shore Arts Center in Baldwin County. He said Raia showed him a different
way to paint. 

Now, even though he can not see what he paints, Trione said blindness
has actually helped him enjoy his art more. 

Trione said that he was a perfectionist as an artist before he was
blinded. 

"I did really detailed paintings before, very realistic," Trione said.
"I would work on a single piece for one or two months, just to get it
right." 

"She taught me how to paint by feel," Trione said of Raia. "And, she
taught me that I didn't have to be perfect. I can now paint something in
30 minutes." 

Trione, who reads Braille, said his art is possible because he has
excellent feeling in his hands. And, he can remember the way things are
from the time he could see. By placing different colored paints in
specific locations of a plate, he can use his hands to realistically
paint different objects, such as trees, shrimp and fish. 

Trione said he paints the images in his mind. 

In addition to painting, Trione said he is getting into clay sculpture. 

Trione showed off his skills to Trent Lott art students by painting a
crab. He then handed each student, over 130 students, an outline of a
fish, which he drew individually Tuesday night. 

"There is so much joy in my life right now," Trione said. "I'm making an
impact with people and giving people hope." 

Trione said he has demonstrated his skills to kindergartens and nursing
homes. 

In addition to bringing Trione to students at Trent Lott, Raia brought a
large number of art supplies to help classes at the school. 

"When I talked to the teachers, they said they were doing fine
physically," Raia said. However, she said teachers said they and
students needed some encouragement. 

The supplies brought by Raia were donated by art classes and teachers in
Alabama, mostly in Baldwin County, she said. 

Reporter Veto F. Roley can be reached at vroley@themississippipress or
(228) 934-1427. 


http://www.gulflive.com/news/mississippipress/index.ssf?/base/news/11733
52540266240.xml

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