Alabama children with visual impairments, blindness and deaf blindness have created art for the Helen Keller Art Show that will be displayed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Edge of Chaos through Aug. 31.
The Helen Keller Art Show features 28 pieces of art and emphasizes artistic abilities of children from birth to age 21 who have been identified as having a visual impairment, as partially sighted or having low vision, or as blind or deafblind. The arts are included in the children’s academic curriculum in areas such as the development of communication skills utilizing both visual and tactical abilities, math, science, reading and leisure time activities. The children attend public, private and home schools and the residential school of The Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. A free reception for the show is from 4:30-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13.
“Not only do parents realize what the children can and will do artistically as they are encouraged or allowed to create these pieces, but the public has the opportunity to gain a better understanding of their skills as well,” said Shirley Johnson-Wilson, art director of the UAB Vision Science Research Center's Helen Keller Art Show andassessment and clinical coordinator in the UAB School of Education. “Educators are encouraged to incorporate the arts into their curriculum, thus developing a much stronger foundation in child development.”
The Helen Keller Art Show was established in 1983 as a cooperative project between agencies serving children of all ages with visual impairments, blindness and deaf blindness. The winning entries, created from various media and produced in Alabama public, private, residential and home schools, are shown throughout the year across the state. The show is sponsored in part by the UAB School of Optometry’s Vision Science Research Center.
The show is on display through Monday, Aug. 31, in The Edge of Chaos, on the Fourth Floor of UAB’s Lister Hill Library, 1700 University Blvd. Some art pieces are available for purchase. For a purchase or to make a donation, contact Shirley Wilson at sjwilson@uab.edu.