[accessibleimage] exhitition and award

Hi,
Two news, one old and another recent.
Best,
Lisa

 http://www.artsbma.org/newsarticles.htm#newsc

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-24-2005/0004093459&EDATE=

Dr. Seymour Hoffman
Recipient of Advocate Award


Dr. Seymour Hoffman, a docent at the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) for fourteen years, has been named by the Council for the Exceptional Children Division on Visual Impairments as the recipient of the 2004 Division on Visual Impairment Exemplary Advocate Award. Qualifications for this award are based on an individual's efforts to promote the quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired.

In 1990, through his leadership and that of others, the Visually Impaired Program was established at the BMA. The program currently enables blind and visually impaired children and adults to experience art in the museum's collection by exploring tactile 3-dimensional reproductions and bas-relief models of artworks. Complementary musical selections are used in setting the mood of the art themes, and pictoral descriptions aid in creating mental images. Tour participants are also able to touch with their gloved hands cast bronze sculpture in the galleries. These hands-on tours are typically led once a month by 25 trained docents and volunteers.

Recently, Dr. Hoffman and Louise T. Brasher, Coordinator for Disabilities at the BMA, collaborated with the Birmingham Regional Center of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind on a film program that offers audio-descriptive films for the visually impaired. Films such as Good Morning, Vietnam, Apollo 13, and Harry Potter have been screened with much success, and more are in the works.

Dr. Hoffman will collaborate with the Alabama School of Fine Arts this fall to accomplish another one of his long-time goals. For the first time in this area, a musical performance will be specially adapted for a blind audience. Details on the performance will be provided as they become available.

Dr. Hoffman was presented with his award at the CEC Annual Convention on
April 15, 2004 in New Orleans, LA.




Magnificent Mile Art Exhibit Features Work of Visually-Impaired Artists


           Guild for the Blind's Fourth Annual Passionate Focus -
 A Juried Exhibition of Works by Artists who are Blind or Visually Impaired
             To Be Held at Chicago's Fourth Presbyterian Church

CHICAGO, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Furthering its mission to help visually
impaired individuals achieve dignity and independence in every area of life,
Chicago's Guild for the Blind announces its Fourth Annual Passionate Focus --
A Juried Exhibition of Works by Artists who are Blind or Visually Impaired
will be held at the famed Fourth Presbyterian Church located on North Michigan
Avenue at Delaware Place and Chestnut Avenue September 15 through November 13,
2005. Beautiful works of photography, sculpture and painting created by
sixteen visually-impaired artists ranging in age from 37 to 72 will be on
display -- proving that artistic vision doesn't require 20/20 vision.
A special opening night fundraiser to benefit the Guild for the Blind
programs is scheduled for Thursday, September 15 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm in the
Gallery of the Fourth Presbyterian Church. Admission is $100 per person and
tickets can be obtained by contacting Cheryl Megurdichian at the Guild at
312-236-8569; or at the door upon entrance. Patrons attending the opening-
night fundraiser will be able to participate in an auction for the displayed
artwork. Sold artwork will remain on display until the exhibit closes on
November 13. Art not sold at the auction will continue to be for sale during
regular gallery hours through November 13 -- Wednesdays through Saturdays
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The gallery is
closed on Monday and Tuesday.
"The Guild for the Blind's mission is to instill or restore our members'
confidence and a sense of dignity, helping them believe in themselves in every
area of their lives, whether at home, work and/or in the creative realm," said
David Tabak, Guild for the Blind executive director. "Most of the Guild's
staff and volunteers are themselves visually impaired and are dedicated to
helping adults throughout the Chicago area learn to use a computer, find
meaningful employment and adjust to vision loss both inside and outside of the
home. Passionate Focus is a reflection of the spirit embodied in all the
programs we offer at the Guild. Simply, if people who are blind can be
artists, what else can they do if given the opportunity and support?"
The artists' work included in the show was selected by a prestigious jury,
including Hyde Park Art Center executive director Chuck Thurow and nationally
recognized artists and art professors (at Indiana's Northwest University and
University of Illinois Chicago respectively), David Klamen and Tony Tasset.
More than 35 artists from the U.S. and abroad submitted artwork for this
year's Passionate Focus. Pieces were selected based on criteria set by the
jurors and include acrylic and oil paintings, photography, ceramics and other
media that portray landscapes, city views, fanciful illustrations and model
automobiles. While choosing artwork, jurors were not told of the nature and
extent of the artists' vision loss-rather each piece was judged solely on the
same merits as those of sighted artists.
Passionate Focus was the inspiration of a visually-impaired staff member
at the Guild, Judi Jasek. Judi, who passed away several years ago, was an
artist whose work was widely exhibited and was an inspiration to the hundreds
of lives she touched. Passionate Focus is a success for two distinct reasons.
While encouraging artists who are blind or visually-impaired to answer their
creative callings, Passionate Focus also educates the sighted community on the
gifts and abilities of those who are blind or visually impaired.

About the Guild for the Blind
The Guild for the Blind serves individuals who are blind or visually
impaired, including those with new vision loss. The Guild strives to promote
positive attitudes about visual impairment and to assist its members in
achieving dignity and independence at home, in the workplace and in the
community. For information about The Guild for the Blind, visit
http://www.guildfortheblind.org or call 312-236-8569.



SOURCE Guild for the Blind
Web Site: http://www.guildfortheblind.org






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