[accessibleimage] art exhibits

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BLIND ARTISTS SHOWCASE WORK


ARTS Blind Birmingham, 15 Jun 2006 - 11:39

A Birmingham charity was today unveiling a major new art exhibition in the city which features a range of paintings and pottery created by blind people.

The show at Quinton Library has been organised by Birmingham Focus on Blindness and features pieces produced over the last few months by members of the charity's painting and pottery club who are all sight impaired or totally blind.

Founder of the group is blind artist and volunteer with the charity, Ian Reynolds, who hosts fortnightly meetings at the charity's headquarters in Harborne with fellow volunteer Graham Barber.

Ian said: "The meetings are ideal and just go to show that even with a disability like sight impairment, it shouldn't and doesn't stop someone's creativity for art.

"I am constantly amazed at the fine detail in the paintings and the superb intricacy of the pottery. I would also like to thank Chris Fellows at Quinton Library for giving the group the opportunity to show their work."

There is a range of paintings and pottery on display at the exhibition, which is open for three weeks at Quinton Library, Ridgeacre Road, Quinton, and many will be for sale to the public.

Chris Fellows, of Quinton library, added: "We are delighted to support Birmingham Focus on Blindness' art group and give a wider audience the chance to see and buy this wonderful work."

For more information about the work of Birmingham Focus on Blindness visit the charity's website at www.birminghamfocus.org.uk

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Ramp Art gala raises money for wheelchair ramps

June 15, 2006



Barbara Griffin follows her Seeing Eye dog, Duncan, around the Ramp Art Gala at Columbia College on Friday. Despite being blind, she is a talented painter and sculptor. The gala, which will run through June 22, features artwork of local artists with disabilities. (ANDREW B. CHURCH/ Missourian) IF YOU GO
What is it? The 11th annual Ramp Art exhibit, presented by Services for Independent Living, showcases the artwork of people with disabilities.



Local artist T.L. Pratt hated art exhibits.

“Art shows never held any interest for me,” he said.

His opinion changed, however, when he rediscovered his independence. After a devastating car accident in 1995 left Pratt blind and in a wheelchair, he was unsure if he would ever live on his own again. But with the help of physical therapy and the support of friends and family, Pratt started putting his life back together.

Three years after the accident, Pratt regained more than his independence. He regained his ability to create art.

“I really think that, for someone who has a disability but is also creative, it’s hard to get art out of you,” said Pratt, who studied graphic design at Oklahoma State University. “You have to look for ways to overcome what holds you back.”

Today, Pratt writes poetry and paints still lifes and floral landscapes. Two of his portraits are featured in this year’s Ramp Art exhibit, which runs through June 22 at the Sid Larson Art Gallery at Columbia College.

Now in its 11th year, Ramp Art features the work of local artists with disabilities. The annual gala raises money to pay for the construction of wheelchair ramps. So far, Ramp Art has funded 86 ramps, which cost about $2,000 each, said Tarzie Hart, assistant director of Services for Independent Living, a non-profit organization that funds the exhibit.

This is Pratt’s third Ramp Art exhibit. He earned two honorable mention awards in 1999, his first exhibition. He works mostly with paints, pastels and colored pencils. Although his eyesight is limited, Pratt says he pays particular attention to shading techniques.

“I hope to continue strengthening my hand-eye coordination,” Pratt said, pointing at a colored-pencil drawing of pink, stemless flowers with a bright orange background.

Cindy Eckstein, Pratt’s friend and fellow artist, also has work on display in this year’s Ramp Art. Eckstein, who was born with cerebral palsy, likes to draw portraits of landscapes and animals using various mediums including charcoal, colored pencil and pastel chalk. Her real passion, however, is animation, and she said she hopes to eventually create greeting cards.

Eckstein said a particular challenge for her is maintaining adequate hand control and the pressure needed to draw and to produce her artwork, skills that took some time to learn. Eckstein recalls that, before her first Ramp Art four years ago, she was reluctant to express herself at all.

“I feel more comfortable around artists now,” Eckstein said. “Disabled people can be really creative. Exhibits let people see that.”

Pratt and Eckstein also plan to take part in two creative writing workshops sponsored by Services for Independent Living. Pratt has been writing poetry since high school and has published three poems.

His creativity is also on display in the kitchen. Pratt takes pride in his culinary abilities, which he has developed since he started living on his own again. Pratt credits his artistry to a big imagination and says he is blessed that he has plenty of opportunities to express himself.

Pratt and Eckstein agree that they have had to develop many new skills over the years, and not only as artists. For Pratt, one particular challenge is becoming comfortable showing his artwork to the public.

“The biggest obstacle is my own fear of exposing myself, that fear of failure,” he said. “You don’t have to have a disability to be afraid to fail.”


What is it? The 11th annual Ramp Art exhibit, presented by Services for Independent Living, showcases the artwork of people with disabilities.

Where? The exhibit is held at the Sid Larson Art Gallery in Brown Hall at Columbia College, 1001 Rogers St.

Cost? The exhibit is free to the public.

When? The artwork will remain in the gallery until June 22. The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Local artist T.L. Pratt hated art exhibits.





excerpt from article

H: I think it's because of the concept of "emotionality", that is, the intensity of the emotions that I put into my work. There are emotions, but with different densities. I am a very emotional person, and I've lived in extreme situations that encouraged that emotional dimension. People seem to perceive the energy that I put in my work. I know that there is a dimension beyond the visual one, and in a piece of art there is obviously a spiritual dimension that reaches people's hearts. I never go to nature paint a landscape. I go to live it, I go to search, and then to transform that experience into a painting. I didn't go to the mountains as a painter but to have my own experience.

The artist stated that the human being is central to his work but, paradoxically, he never paints people, only landscapes. According to Ditsch, his goal is to have viewers see themselves in the work, to experience a landscape as their own and to involve the viewer both perceptively and emotionally.

H: At one of my exhibitions, a mother arrived with her blind son. He didn't touch the paintings, just stood in front of them. I then realized that, of course, there is another dimension, and that's what people feel. People are surprised and moved at the same time. It's not a game of mine, it's not that I want to play with that phenomena, but I can't do it any other way.

article

Eye-catching art


Life-changing challenges and afflictions have often spurred accomplishment and breakthroughs that might have otherwise been not achieved.

That idea underlies "The Liberated Eye," a new show of oil paintings by Albert Schmiege, a color-blind artist with macular degeneration. Schmiege explores "the true source of creativity" and "the role of intuition" in art. The show runs though July 26 in the Wisconsin Union Galleries.

Also on display is a 50-year retrospective of artist Ronald Trent Anderson in a variety of media and styles.




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