Decatur Resident Chosen as International Fellow
August 15, 2003
- Marquetta Johnson is one of 12 international artists selected from more than 100 entries - - Honorees to exhibit art work at the United Nations on December 3rd
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2003 (Washington, D.C.) - VSA arts, an international nonprofit organization that provides opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities, today announced that Marquetta Johnson of Decatur, Georgia has been chosen as an International Fellow for the 2004 International VSA arts Festival, to be held June 9-12, 2004 in Washington, D.C. The theme of the Festival is Odyssey: DARE to Imagine &
Marquetta Johnson is one of 12 visual artists chosen out of a pool of more than 100 entrants to represent VSA arts as an International Fellow. A renowned fabric artist, Marquetta will serve as an ambassador for the organization in the months leading up to the Festival.
As the great-granddaughter of a seamstress, granddaughter of a quilt and folk artist and daughter of tailors, Marquettas family tradition fueled her autistic desire. After becoming paralyzed from a gunshot wound 30 years ago, Marquetta has created works that can be found in the private collections of such notables as B.B. King, Maya Angelou, Faith Ringgold, and the Coca-Cola Corporation.
Our Fellows are each a testament to the power of the arts in the lives of people with disabilities, said Soula Antoniou, President of VSA arts. These 12 International Fellows are role models for future artists. Moreover, the excellence of their work sets the tone for what will be an incredible week-long celebration of the arts.
Marquetta creates hand-dyed fabrics that infuse multiple layers of painted-on color, then fashions them through needle and thread into bold patterns and original designs. Her journey as an artist includes working with children in detention centers, alternative schools, and community programs where she continues the artistic traditions she learned as a child.
In addition to exhibiting at the 2004 International VSA arts Festival, each artist will share their work through a community project in their respective countries and hometowns. These artists will be participating in a United Nations exhibit, December 3, 2003, in New York City, celebrating the UN International Day of People with Disabilities.
Held every five years, the 2004 International VSA arts Festival is an opportunity for the public to witness and celebrate the creativity and talent of people with disabilities. The organizations largest and most important event, the Festival gives participants an exciting opportunity to discuss, learn, and explore issues in the arts that are significant to people with disabilities.
The Festival will mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of VSA arts and will include artistic performances, exhibitions, and an educational conference in venues throughout Washington D.C., including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Union Station.
For more information on the 2004 International VSA arts Festival, please contact Shaena Muldoon at (800) 933-8721 or visit the Festival Web site at www.vsartsfestival.org.
About VSA arts
VSA arts is an international non-profit organization founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith to promote education and lifelong learning opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities. Nearly five million people participate in VSA arts programs annually through a worldwide network of affiliate organizations across the nation and in more than 60 countries. VSA arts programs in music, dance, drama, creative writing, and the visual arts develop learning skills, encourage independence, and promote access and inclusion.
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