Showcasing talents of people with disabilities
Friday, July 6, 2007 1:03 AM CDT




The Muscular Dystrophy Association Art Collection is celebrating its 15th year of showcasing the work of artists affected by neuromuscular diseases.

Begun in 1992, the collection graces the walls of MDA’s national headquarters and presents exhibits across the country each year.

Lois Lewis, of Flossmoor, has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and her woodcarving, "Lean on Me When You're Not Strong," is in included in the collection. Featuring nearly 350 original works by artists ages 2 through 82 and from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the collection aims to showcase the talents of people who have physical disabilities.

Donations come from artists affected by any of the 40-plus neuromuscular diseases in the MDA program. Adults have created more than 60 percent of the pieces accepted by the collection. The rest have been donated by children, including pieces created in MDA art workshops led by artists such as Milda Vizbar of New York, marine life artist Wyland of Hawaii, and MDA National Vice President and world-renowned 3-D artist Charles Fazzino of New York.

The artwork encompasses many mediums, including watercolor, oil, pastels, wood, bronze, ceramics, pen and ink, digital designs, acrylics, crayons and photographs.

Selected pieces from the collection have traveled across the country, appearing in some 70 exhibits in 44 cities in various venues including museums, libraries, universities, airports and corporate headquarters.

Past exhibits include such locations as the Dallas Museum of Art, Capitol Children’s Museum in Washington, Los Angeles Children’s Museum, Chicago Public Library and the Sheldon Art Galleries in St. Louis. It’s been estimated that the collection has traveled more than 125,000 miles and been viewed by more than three million people.

Artwork in the collection is never sold, but reproductions have been shared with the public through MDA notecards, calendars, award plaques and e-postcards. Many of the pieces can be seen online at www.mda.org/commprog/art.

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services and professional and public health education.

- THE TIMES http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/07...0f005e7e48.txt