women of vision: ten years of art beyond sight

by A.M. STEWART
Imagine the world you once knew has become invisible. Now you must rely on touch and sound to navigate through life. And all the daily tasks you used to do need to be re-learned. Because once your sight disappears, life takes on a different meaning. Your task now: to adjust in a visually centered world.
Now imagine being given the chance to create art, even if you’re visually impaired.
The exhibit at the Cummer Museum, “Women of Vision: Ten Years of Art Beyond Sight” is a culmination of just that; art created by women with low vision and blindness during the past ten years.
After working as a counselor at Independent Living for Adult Blind (ILAB) and having experienced losing most of her vision, Sister Elizabeth Fiorite noticed the need for a creative outlet for the women she helped. Fiorite approached The Cummer Museum ten years ago and initiated the program to help give low vision and blind women the chance to express themselves through literary and artistic expression.
“I’m really so very happy for the women and the museum,” Fiorite says. “And I’m so humbled at this experience.”
Fiorite is quick to point out that this exhibit is only the beginning in helping bring art to the visually impaired and awareness to communities.
The art encompasses poetry and memoirs, abstract and contemporary paintings, photography, beautifully etched clay sculptures and brightly colored origami art. The participants in the program have also been given the chance to dance to live music; a part of living that is usually quick to disappear with vision loss. There is even a video that shows how the women create their art.
The exhibit also displays a series of compelling self-portraits created by students at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. Over seven years ago, the Women of Vision program inspired the Cummer to bring art to the students at the school. Previously, this type of artistic expression was an area of study off-limits to those children.
Women of Vision is on display at The Cummer through March 15, 2009. In addition, artwork from Women of Vision and Florida School for the Deaf and Blind will be displayed at the Main Downtown Public Library and WJCT Studios through October 31.