APH News & Press

Blind/visually impaired artists receive awards at APH InSights '99 ceremony at Hyatt Hotel on Saturday October 23, 1999

News Release: Louisville, Kentucky, October 29, 1999

Awards for APH InSights '99, the annual international art competition organized by the American Printing House for the Blind, were presented October 23 in a ceremony to be held at the Hyatt Hotel. Thirty-two artists who are blind or visually impaired will be honored; fourteen of them will come to Louisville to receive their awards in person. Among the artist-attendees were Naomi Burke, an adult artist from Dallas, Texas, who has made a stunning watercolor of chrysanthemums, John McCubbin, an eighth grader who has made an imaginative sculpture of a musk ox in soapstone and Mark Dolby, from Churchville, New York, who painted a self-portrait. (A complete list of artists, including the award they received and their home state is below).

The award-winning art works, along with a selection other works, were on public display prior to the awards ceremony. The exhibition was shown at the Hyatt Regency, 320 W. Jefferson, Louisville, Kentucky from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM on Friday, October 22 and from 8:00 AM until 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 23. Some art works were for sale.

APH InSights '99 features seventy-two works by artists from the U. S. and Canada. This was the eighth year for the competition. Participants range from preschool children to senior citizens, and include professional artists as well as hobbyists and school art classes. John Begley, of the Louisville Visual Art Association and Barbara Hester, a former art teacher in the Jefferson County Schools were the jurors. Entries in a wide range of media, including paintings, drawings, sculpture and photography, were submitted. From the 479 entries, first, second and third place winners, along with several honorable mentions, were chosen in each of nine categories, along with a selection of entries to be included in the exhibition. A special award for a Group Project was given for the "Transportation Quilt" created by 18 students from the Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts.

The awards ceremony was part of the annual meeting of the Ex Officio Trustees of the American Printing House for the Blind.

Those who missed the "live" exhibition will be able to see the seventy-two artworks on the APH accessible web site at www.aph.org.

The thirty-two Award-Winning Artists (those with an asterisk* are visiting Louisville to receive their awards in person) are:

Since 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind has promoted the independence of blind persons by providing special media, tools, and materials needed for education and life.

Contact Roberta Williams, Public Relations Specialist, for more information. Telephone: 1 -800-223-1839 or (502) 895-2405; e-mail: rwilliams@aph.org

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