Organizations for Blind Artists
"A
man paints with his brains and not with his hands."
Michelangelo
"Painting
is a blind man's profession. He paints not what he sees, but what he feels,
what he tells himself about what he has seen."
Pablo Picasso
As these two famous artists indicated,
one does not need to be able to see to create meaningful art. There is no
consensus on what makes something "art." We would be here all day if
we started talking about the aesthetics and definition of art. However, most artists, critics, and patrons of
the arts would agree that an important aspect of art is the emotion or feeling
an artist conveys in her or his work. A person can learn the techniques of
light, shadow, shape, color, and style, but an artist will transmit some feeling, emotion, thought, or purpose
into the work, which will then be transmitted to the viewer. One does not need
to be able to see perfectly to be able to transform abstract concepts into
physical form, whether it is a painting, sculpture, photograph, sketch, or
other visual media.
This being said, being
a blind artist has its issues and difficulties. Painting, photography, or
drawing is especially difficult because they traditionally rely heavily on
sight. Artists who are blind or visually impaired need to develop techniques
for choosing colors and tracking brushstrokes. And, like any artist, they
communicate with each other about new artistic styles and tools to use. They
also exchange information on collaborative exhibits of their work, how to
advertise, and where to buy each other's works.
If you are an aspiring
artist or know someone who is, there are some great resources out there for
artists who are blind and visually impaired. Here are a few of them.
VSA Arts, formerly
Very Special Arts, is an international organization devoted to increasing
accessibility in the arts for people with disabilities. Originally founded in
1974, their four guiding principles are 1) all people with disabilities deserve
quality arts education, 2) art educators should be able to accommodate students
with disabilities, 3) cultural institutions should be completely accessible for
people with disabilities of all ages, and 4) aspiring artists with disabilities
should be able to develop their skills just like people without disabilities.
Their website includes resources for educators, artists, and students,
including publications, information on programs, awards, and exhibitions,
affiliates, career development, and much more.
Founded in 2004, this
UK-based charity organization hosts exhibitions that aim to "dispel the notion that sight is essential to creating or
enjoying exceptional art. The overall message of BlindArt is artistic
excellence regardless of visual ability." In addition to hosting exhibits,
BlindArt maintains a permanent collection of works by blind and sighted
artists, and runs art education programs for children.
The BAS is an online
artist's community dedicated to promoting blind and visually impaired artists.
The online community displays its artworks online and periodically exhibits
works collaboratively. Artists can exchange information on tips, techniques,
and tools of the trade. The BAS also serves as a support group for these
artists. Other artists who are not blind but wish to support blind artists are
also encouraged to join.
This is a group, found
primarily on Flickr, of blind and visually impaired artists. They share
information and their work with each other as well as promote blind and
visually impaired artists nationwide.
Friends in Art (FIA)
Affiliated with the American Council for the Blind, this organization promotes accessibility to the arts for people who are blind and visually impaired. Among many other things, Friends In Art offers an annual scholarship to burgeoning artists in college or art/design schools. During the ACB annual convention, FIA offers an "art parlor" in which artists can exhibit their works. They also offer workshops to hone artistic skills.
Several other organizations focus on access to the arts for people with disabilities in a broader sense, but that is a topic for another day.
If you're an aspiring
artist or know someone who is, please check these resources out and don't be
afraid to paint what you feel!
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