Panel discussion
topics, section 6:
MR.
HOCKENBERRY: Other questions? I'm wondering if everyone on the question
could respond to the following question? How important do you
think organizations like VSA arts are in advocating or empowering people
to think of themselves as artists and actually to go out there and get
their work shown? And what role has VSA arts had in your work as an
artist? Suzanne?
MS. LEVINE:
It's interesting. Sometimes I'm concerned about being segregated and
affiliated with something that's specifically disability-related. On
the other hand, the world is not always an easy world,and there's
an element of safety and comfort at being treated as an artist, especially
when I do docu-work, which is sometimes not viewed "artistic." So it's
been a relief for me to be involved with an organization that understands.
I've called Stephanie, I don't know, millions of times, and e-mailed
her millions of times about different things. And let me repeat that,
make sure it's right...and I have never, never once felt like I was
doing something wrong or something bad or anything kind of negative.
And that allowed me to concentrate on what the actual issue is, which
is the art, rather than trying to get the accommodation to get to the
point of the art, which feels like often the rest of the world is like
that. And so I think it's very important to be a safe space, to be
who I am, and given that support. I wish the world wasn't like that
and I wish there was more integration and acceptance of diversity, but
the world isn't like that. So I'm grateful to have this opportunity,
absolutely. And it's been a really good experience.
MR. H:
Tom.
MR. LEE:
I think everybody needs to have a form of self-expression, and what
VSA arts does, with children in particular, as far as offering them
programs where they can dabble in the arts and express themselves I
think is very important. What VSA arts has done for myself is allowed
me to get more exposure on a national level. It's been very good
to be in a couple shows that they've sponsored and kind of get my work
out there. So whether it's for children or adults, amateur or professional,
it helps to have this outlet.
MR. H:
Joan.
MS. WEXLER:Well I see myself as an artist period. And the disability I have
is irrelevant. I'm an artist and I happen to have a disability but it's
not important. But I think what the VSA arts is very important to the
country, and I think it's important to advocate artists with disabilities.
MR. H:
Traci.
MS. PARKS:
I don't even remember how I discovered VSA, but it has been a very valuable
resource for me. I was not doing fine art that much until I found
VSA. I was doing all commercial architectural work. I mean that
is my day-to-day, self-employment, put food on the table job.VSA
arts has given me the opportunity to have work exhibited in the calendar.
I had the cover shot and I'm happy to say I was the centerfold, I was
Miss June in the calendar, well my picture was, I wasn't (laughter).
MR. H:
I'm glad we're towards the end of the program that you bring that up.
But thank you for sharing that.
MS. PARKS:
But I've also been able to have work exhibited at the International
Photographer Hall of Fame. This exhibit, that would not have happened.And with my local VSA affiliate in Ohio, I have also done things
other than artwork. I have given seminars on the business of art,
where I taught a workshop on how do you price your work, who do you
sell your work to, why are they going to buy it, where are you going
to sell it, and those kinds of things.And that's not really disability
related. That's just something that all artists need to learn. So
the fact that it's a disability or supports artists with disabilities
is great,but I am finding that the opportunities I am getting are
not just disability related. They are leading to other things as
well. And that's important.
MR. H:
Absolutely. Angelo.
MR. SCIULLI:
My (UNINTELLIGIBLE) my association with VSA arts is the artists (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
this is (UNINTELLIGIBLE)the national exposure (UNINTELLIGIBLE)that come with this panel. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) able to give back
by participating in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) they say the arts festival
in my town.There are 2 other things that are important to me. One
is the opportunity to participate (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with the high schools
in VSA arts and classes. VSA arts (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the North
American National Photographers Association, another (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
have joined together to put together a program for (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
photography for people of all the abilities, including disabilities.
The first (UNINTELLIGIBLE) will be in October of this year.
MR. H:
Great. Well, certainly it's a myth to think art happens without patronage,
and whether we're talking about the Medicis in Florence or the Sistine
Chapel at the Vatican, or any of the spectacular facilities you can
find here in the D.C. area, all art is assisted by the patronage
of organizations that think that art is important, and VSA is a part
of that long-standing tradition, whether disabilities are the focus
or not. Artists and patrons are a very, very long-standing relationship
that have contributed to the enrichment of our culture for thousands
and thousands of years.
I'd like to
certainly thank everyone here on the panel. Please give a round of applause
to the 5 artists with me. And if possible, if you could join me I thanking
NRG Energy and Elaine Ziemba who's chief sponsor of this exhibit and
this event, thank you very much. Thank you folks, see you next time.
MS. STUART:
I just want to say that I think that you are changing the world, because
when we hear you and we see your art, we see things differently than
we did before we heard you and saw your work. So it is world-changing.
Thank you all for coming. Please take a copy of the book. NRG Energy
was wonderful to sponsor not only this but the exhibit, good friends
of VSA arts. So nice to have you all here, and again, thank you very
much, John, and all the panel.
END OF FORUM.
