Washington, DC Hosts Largest Festival Of Artists With Disabilities

With the ADA 20th Anniversary fast approaching (July 26th), special events are happening near (NEPACIL luncheon at St. Mary's Center) to our nation's capital and the largest festival of artists' with disabilities.

The 2010 International VSA Festival in Washington, hosted by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, runs through "June 12 and features many free daily performances, films and visual arts." A exhibit of 130 pieces will remain at the Smithsonian on view through Aug. 29.

"Renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly contributed a large-scale installation. Performances will feature singer Patti LaBelle, as well as Josh Blue, who won season four of "Last Comic Standing."
Organizers brought in more than 600 artists, performers and educators from around the world, including students from every state who competed to have their work shown at Washington's Union Station."

"The festival was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. The exhibits are designed to be more accessible to disabled audiences than ever before. They include touchable examples of artworks, audio descriptions and labels written with Braille, curator Stephanie Moore said.

One installation, "Sight Unseen," is the first major exhibit of the most-accomplished photographers with visual impairments. One section includes images with raised ink to allow blind visitors to feel the shape and dimension of the photograph.

Another exhibit features the work of Judith Scott, who was kept in an institution for 35 years with Down syndrome but began creating sculptures from yarn, paper towels and other simple materials almost constantly for 18 years once she was released to her sister's custody.

"What I really want people to see is that, indeed, artists with disabilities play a major role in the arts community," said Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser. "It is crucial that we not disenfranchise that segment of our population.""

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