[accessibleimage] article 'Blind' artist pursues dream

Forwarding from the AEB list.
Regards,
Lisa

Clayton News Star, North Carolina
Wednesday, April 20, 2005

'Blind' artist pursues dream

By JOAN PLOTNICK

Though his vision is blurry, Nathan Southern can see his dreams clearly.

One day, he will own his own advertising and graphic design agency.

Southern, 25, has been legally blind since age 10, the result of a brain 
tumor operation.

This has not stopped him from enrolling in painting and photography classes 
at Johnston Community College - requirements for a degree in advertising and 
graphic design.

"I became sick of people saying I couldn't do it. I just decided to go ahead 
and do it," he said. "If I find I can't do it, I can't do it. But if I find 
I can do something, I'll just go ahead with it."

Southern's vision has tested as 20:200. This means he must be 20 feet from 
an object to see what a person with normal vision could see 200 feet away.

As a result, he said, "everything is a little blurry" and he has trouble 
making out small details. He also is slightly red-green and blue-purple 
colorblind.

One of the biggest challenges, he said, is reading the light meter on the 
camera.

Southern and his family moved to Clayton from Binghamton, N.Y. about a year 
ago. While in New York, he said, he tried to take classes at Broome (County) 
Community College, but the faculty was wary about his ability to complete 
the assignments.

"When I moved here, I decided to go ahead anyway," he said. "Johnston 
Community College never said anything. They worked with me any way I needed 
it. The teachers I have are great."

JCC painting teacher John Byrd described Southern as an excellent student.

"He's good and very conscientious," Byrd said. "He wants to make sure he is 
doing exactly what he's supposed to do."

The only accommodation Byrd has made for Southern is allowing him some extra 
time for projects and tests.

"I made no special accommodations," Byrd said. "I don't think his visual 
impairment has deterred him at all. When I met him, I was surprised and 
encouraged because I think everyone has a dream, and everyone should follow 
his dream."

The only difference between Southern's work and that of other students is 
that Southern's images often are less detail-oriented, Byrd said.

Southern also has use of a closed circuit TV until he graduates. The 
machine - which greatly magnifies texts, photos and graphics - was provided 
by the N.C. Commission for the Blind.

This year, Southern only is enrolled in two courses, which meet Tuesdays and 
Thursdays from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. He is unable to drive, so his 
father, James, drops him off and picks him up.

Next year, when he is a permanent North Carolina resident, Southern plans to 
enroll full-time. He also plans to begin doing freelance photography for 
birthday parties and other special occasions.

This is the first time Southern has ever taken a painting course. He likes 
the creative aspect of it. Whether painting or photography, his favorite 
subjects are animals, landscapes and outdoor scenes.

This makes sense, given his hobbies of playing with animals, fishing and 
"anything outdoors."

Southern said he knew a man in Binghamton who was completely blind and 
renovated his entire house, sheetrock and all.

"People like to think those with visual problems have other problems, too," 
he said. "I can do pretty much what anyone else can, with the exception of a 
few things."

http://www.claytonnews-star.com/news/2005042001533.html




--

Other related posts: