[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Article: Creations straight from the heart and mind

[Shelley L. Rhodes]

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Friday, February 11, 2005

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.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050211/NEWS/502110454/1006/SPORTS&Page=2




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