November 2nd - November 30th, 2018

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

 The Strand Center for the Arts Gallery Coordinator, David Monette, stated “The most important aspect behind the ‘Seen and Unseen’ exhibit is to educate the public about artists with disabilities, specifically how people who are visually impaired can interact with and create art.”

 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 independence. NCAVI Executive Director, Amy Kretser, said engaging people with the community is an important part of that independence.

 "People who are blind face a lot of challenges particularly with isolation because access to transportation in the North Country can be very limited," said Kretser. "NCAVI's Access Adirondack program is intended to find ways to get people engaged and participating in the arts is just one way people who are blind can do that." 

 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.  Kretser said, "NABA is our sister agency based in the Albany region and the partnership between our agencies is strong. Michele O'Hare, NABA's Director of Development & Communications, coordinates the artists and their art, and the Blind Artist Society thrives largely because her efforts."