June 3rd - June 24th, 2016

The Strand Center for the Arts was proud to announce the new exhibit that opened in June, “In Perspective: Art of the Visually Impaired.” This exhibit featured artwork from the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany Blind Artist Society (NABA BAS) and the North Country Association of the Visually Impaired, Inc. (NCAVI).

 The Strand Center for the Arts Gallery Coordinator, David Monette, stated “The most important aspect behind the ‘In Perspective’ exhibit is to educate the public about artists with disabilities, specifically how people with visual impairments interact with and create art.”

 The Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany Blind Artist Society (NABA BAS) is a free, web based community of artists with varying degrees of visual impairment. The NABA BAS mission is to sustain the needs of artists suffering from visual loss. Since 1908, NABA, a non-profit organization, has been fulfilling its mission to provide services and support to help blind and visually impaired people of all ages lead independent lives. NABA’s vision rehabilitation therapists work in-home and on-site with individuals to teach adaptive skills and strategies that enable independent living. Located at NABA’s facility at 301 Washington Avenue in Albany, the Dr. Harry M. Judge Vision Rehabilitation Center provides examinations by a low vision specialist for the prescription of magnifiers, special glasses and adaptive devices. Services are at no charge to the legally blind. For more information about NABA, go to: www.naba-vision.org

 The North Country Association for the Visually Impaired, Inc. (NCAVI) is a private not-for-profit organization in Plattsburgh, NY dedicated to assisting people who are blind, legally blind, or visually impaired with attaining or maintaining personal independence. Jodi Lattrell-Burns, Executive Administrator at NCAVI, worked closely with the Strand Center for the Arts to develop and teach a new series of art workshops for 2016 that would offer the use of different media to create 2D artwork. In addition, throughout March and April two clay-based workshops with Jackie Sabourin and Jerry Sequin were offered in the Strand Center’s Jackie Sabourin Clay Studio. 

NCAVI Executive Director, Amy Kretser, looked forward to the 2016 art show.  "The artwork produced by local participants is not only beautiful, it's inspirational," Kretser said, "and the work showcased by the Blind Artist Society is outstanding. These pieces are created by artists who are blind from all over the country and we are fortunate to be able to have such amazing work at the Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh." Kretser explained that an endowment left to the Northeastern Association for the Blind in Albany allows the pieces to be shipped around the country to different shows at no cost to the artists. She said, "Art can be such a beautiful form of expression for any person who picks up a brush regardless of whether or not they are sighted. It's particularly inspiring when people push through the challenges associated with blindness to create something truly remarkable."