[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] links to articles, animation film, Blind Images- gallery, Singing in the Rain

[Lisa Yayla]

 Hi,
Three links, one about disabled children in India making an
aninmation film, news about film at Birmingham Museum of Art
and last one about  Blind Images, a gallery.

Regards,
Lisa

Disabled children from Bhopal make an animation film
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=70893

"Singin' in the Rain." Steiner Auditorium, Birmingham Museum
of Art,
http://www.al.com/entertainment/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1108117061126530.xml


Creations straight from the heart and mind
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050211/NEWS/502110454/1006/SPORTS

"Singin' in the Rain." Steiner Auditorium, Birmingham Museum
of Art, 2000 Eighth Ave. North. The 1952 classic is
presented as an audio description film for the blind and
visually impaired. Free.b 1 p.m. 


Disabled children from Bhopal make an animation film: 
[India News]: Bhopal, Feb 11 : A group of visually and
physically challenged children in Bhopal have performed a
great task. Encouraged by a voluntary organisation, these
children, on their own, have made an animation film. 

The students showed indomitable spirit and worked with the
normal sighted students at a recently held three-day long
animation workshop to learn the art of filmmaking. 

The young filmmakers have done everything from scratch like
conceiving the story idea and later compiling it together
into a short duration animation film. 

Physically handicapped Feroz directed the movie under the
assistance of two animation filmmakers from Belgium. Others,
who were also blind, did their part by lending voice to the
imaginary clay characters. 

Kamal Brahmori, a blind teammate, though unable to see his
work, said they would love to do more such creative work in
the near future. 

"First we made clay models and then the models were moved in
front of the camera. I had never thought I would be able to
do such a thing. I have done it for the first time," said
Brahmori. 

Volunteers lauded the children's work. 

"We have worked with blind children, with disabled children
before, but here, everybody who is making a film for the
first time, is disabled. You know that you are blind, you
are from slums, and you are not a normal child. If it is the
first time you make a film, you have to learn it. Everybody
starts with the same thing and then you know some people
have more capacity than the other. It happens in every
group. Even when you work with blind children, they are who
understand it quicker, others are not. And blind people can
be more creative with sounds some times. Other people can do
something better. Every child is creative in one sense, less
creative in another sense," said Laurent. (ANI) 



Creations straight from the heart and mind

By AMY ABERN

amy.abern at heraldtribune.com

ENGLEWOOD -- A visual artist doesn't need to see; a true
visual artist needs to create.

That is the theme that runs through the Blind Images gallery
at The Emporium on West Dearborn Street. While it is
impossible to tell from their jewelry, sculptures and
paintings, the artists who exhibit at Blind Images are all
visually impaired or otherwise handicapped.

There will be a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday for the
artists at Blind Images in The Emporium as part of Saturday
Night Live on West Dearborn Street, the monthly block party.

Jeanne Cadman, owner of Blind Images, has cataracts,
retinitis pigmentosa -- a disease that affects night and
peripheral vision -- and a wrinkle in her retina, and she
gets around with the help of her guide dog, Fenway.
Retinitis pigmentosa is a degenerative disease, but the fact
that it's getting worse for her doesn't show up in her work.

"It has to be a God-given thing at this point," she said.
"My hand just takes over."

Some of the other artist biographies that accompany the
works offer similar sentiments. Watercolorist Lois Kilgore,
who suffers from macular degenerative disease, said it was
"the grace of God" to have "found a window of opportunity"
to paint.

Angelo Albanese also suffers from macular degenerative
disease, but that hasn't stopped him from painting with "the
joy and expression inspired by the colors of life."

P.Y. Boggs -- "Da Captn" -- was a sailor all his life, lived
on boats and spent 15 years around the Bahama Islands. Three
years ago, he was diagnosed with coronary obstructive
pulmonary disease and now he lives on oxygen support.

Land-bound for the most part -- he still goes out in a
wooden sailboat around Lemon Bay -- he needed a new hobby.
Enter fractal art.

"It starts with a math formula," he explained. "Then you put
that equation into a computer software program that turns
that equation into a picture."

>From there, he paints over the image, cuts, pencils in,
washes over -- any number of techniques to create a finished
product. Da Captn said some pieces take a few hours; others
take weeks.

The hardest part of pursuing his art is not knowing whether
he'll be able to get out of bed.

"People are only supposed to live for two years with this
disease," he said. "I've had it for three, so I've already
beat the odds."

At the Lemon Tree Gallery, jeweler Melissa Seral will
conduct a free gemstone beading demonstration 

from 6 to 8 p.m. Anyone interested in creating their own
jewelry can spend $15 to $50 for a gemstone kit to
participate in the workshop. Space is limited; reservations
are recommended. Call 474-5700.

Miles and Jim Gibson perform at Kelly's Tavern every other
Friday and at Will's Honkytonk every Wednesday, but this
will be their first Saturday Night Live performance.

They will be playing a lively mix of classic rock, blues and
country from 6 to 8 p.m. next door to the Café on Dearborn.

Saturday Night Live is sponsored by the Olde Englewood
Village Association.

In addition to live entertainment, businesses along West
Dearborn Street stay open late; some offer light
refreshments.

For more information, call 473-1840.