A new exhibit in Calgary is helping shine a spotlight on the incredible works created by about a dozen local artists who all live with challenges in their daily lives.
Award of Excellence, an exhibit at Calgary’s Memorial Park Library, was organized by Artistic Expressions, a group that sponsors adults with physical disabilities or acquired brain injuries to take art classes.
Kathy Austin, one of the artists, is legally blind but, despite that fact, she’s authored a number of books, worked as a photographer and is an accomplished visual artist.
“I don’t have a problem with my blindness. It’s the rest of the world out there that has trouble with it. You know, people are really scared of me or they don’t know how to deal with me because I’ve been told I don’t look like a blind person. I don’t look blind; I don’t act blind because most of what people have seen and heard are stereotypes.”
Austin’s work, Yeti Mom, is among the pieces currently on display.
The show runs until December 18.
(With files from Kevin Green)
