Art Exhibition open to visually impaired artists!

Furthering its mission to help visuallyimpaired individuals achieve dignity and independence in every area of life,Chicago's Guild for the Blind announces its Fourth Annual Passionate Focus --A Juried Exhibition of Works by Artists who are Blind or Visually Impairedwill be held at the famed Fourth Presbyterian Church located on North MichiganAvenue at Delaware Place and Chestnut Avenue September 15 through November 13,2005.

Beautiful works of photography, sculpture and painting created bysixteen visually-impaired artists ranging in age from 37 to 72 will be ondisplay -- proving that artistic vision doesn't require 20/20 vision. A special opening night fundraiser to benefit the Guild for the Blindprograms is scheduled for Thursday, September 15 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm in theGallery of the Fourth Presbyterian Church.

Admission is $100 per person andtickets can be obtained by contacting Cheryl Megurdichian at the Guild at312-236-8569; or at the door upon entrance. Patrons attending the opening-night fundraiser will be able to participate in an auction for the displayedartwork. Sold artwork will remain on display until the exhibit closes onNovember 13. Art not sold at the auction will continue to be for sale duringregular gallery hours through November 13 -- Wednesdays through Saturdays11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The gallery isclosed on Monday and Tuesday. "The Guild for the Blind's mission is to instill or restore our members'confidence and a sense of dignity, helping them believe in themselves in everyarea of their lives, whether at home, work and/or in the creative realm," saidDavid Tabak, Guild for the Blind executive director. "Most of the Guild'sstaff and volunteers are themselves visually impaired and are dedicated tohelping adults throughout the Chicago area learn to use a computer, findmeaningful employment and adjust to vision loss both inside and outside of thehome.

Passionate Focus is a reflection of the spirit embodied in all theprograms we offer at the Guild. Simply, if people who are blind can beartists, what else can they do if given the opportunity and support?" The artists' work included in the show was selected by a prestigious jury,including Hyde Park Art Center executive director Chuck Thurow and nationallyrecognized artists and art professors (at Indiana's Northwest University andUniversity of Illinois Chicago respectively), David Klamen and Tony Tasset. More than 35 artists from the U.S. and abroad submitted artwork for thisyear's Passionate Focus.

Pieces were selected based on criteria set by thejurors and include acrylic and oil paintings, photography, ceramics and othermedia that portray landscapes, city views, fanciful illustrations and modelautomobiles. While choosing artwork, jurors were not told of the nature andextent of the artists' vision loss-rather each piece was judged solely on thesame merits as those of sighted artists. Passionate Focus was the inspiration of a visually-impaired staff memberat the Guild, Judi Jasek.

Judi, who passed away several years ago, was anartist whose work was widely exhibited and was an inspiration to the hundredsof lives she touched. Passionate Focus is a success for two distinct reasons.While encouraging artists who are blind or visually-impaired to answer theircreative callings, Passionate Focus also educates the sighted community on thegifts and abilities of those who are blind or visually impaired.