"Driving Force": A National Juried Exhibition of Young Artists with Disabilities Debuts at the Smithsonian Institution

September 20, 2004

VSA arts and Volkswagen of America, Inc. Third Annual National Awards Program

Washington, D.C. - On Sept. 25, 2004, Driving Force, will open in the S. Dillon Ripley Center at the Smithsonian Institution. “Driving Force” is a juried exhibition of 15 award winning young artists, ages 16-25, with disabilities.

For the third consecutive year, VSA arts and Volkswagen of America, Inc. have partnered to recognize and showcase young artists with disabilities. Prior to the installation at the Ripley Center, VSA arts and Volkswagen of America, Inc. will present a total of $30,000 in cash awards to these finalists in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday, September 23, 2004. Awards will be presented by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, Founder of VSA arts, and David Geanacopoulos, director of industry-government relations, Volkswagen of America, Inc.

These young artists were selected from a national pool of 142 submissions by a jury panel that included William Newman, artist and professor, Corcoran School of Art, and Grady Turner, art critic and curator. Artwork from these finalists will be displayed at the Rayburn House Building during the Hill event, at the escalator gallery of the Ripley Center through Nov. 29, and then tour throughout the country.

Sunaura Taylor, the Grand Prize awardee from Athens, GA was inspired to begin painting by her mother, also a painter, and was home-schooled during her childhood education. Around the age of seventeen, Sunaura began exploring portraiture. During this time, Sunaura also completed a self-portrait that captured aspects of her physical disability. Before this work, the relationship between her disability and her art had been very material. For instance, learning how she might paint with her mouth and feet or devise special systems to reach the top of her large canvases. With her self-portrait, Sunaura is presently studying theories on normalcy and exploring the disabled body in painting. “Painting and disability are directly related in that they both help to form the person I am. I would not be me without either – but they are also not dependent on each other. However, being disabled has colored my perspectives and interests in an infinite number of ways.” www.sunnytaylor.org

The “Driving Force” finalists are: Sunaura C. Taylor, Grand Prize (Georgia – age 22), Isaac Powell, First Award (Texas – age 24), Noelle Nevolo, Second Award (New Jersey – age 24). Award of Excellence finalists: Matthew Drumright, (Tennessee – age 21), Katie Skipper, (Alabama – age 23), Katie Miller, (Maryland – age 20), Mame N’Diaye, (Virginia – age 23), Bryan Guglielimi, (New York – age 19), Sivorak Mom, (California – age 16), Timothy Kadish, (Massachusetts – age 23), Jennifer Gill, (Indiana – age 18), David Grigorian, (Colorado – age 23), Emily McCulley, (Kansas – age 16), Chris Hodge, (Indiana – age 21), and Victor Hsieh, (California – age 24).

“This annual program clearly illustrates the impact our work has on our constituents in a meaningful way,” comments Soula Antoniou, president, VSA arts. “The more emerging artists with disabilities are encouraged to develop their talents, the more our society will become the rich, vibrant one that we all want to live in.”

“As a company that values diversity and inclusion, we look for ways to highlight the extraordinary creativity and talents of young Americans with disabilities,” said Steve Keyes, director corporate communications. “We were fortunate to find a wonderful partner in VSA arts.”

Driving Force will be on view through November 29, 2004 in the Escalator Gallery, S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, D.C. Hours: Mon -Sun 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.

Visit Driving Force online.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Volkswagen believes that the "heartware" is equally as important as the "hardware." For people with disabilities, the automobile provides both freedom of mobility and self-expression. Volkswagen. All drivers wanted. www.vw.com

About VSA arts

VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. VSA arts is creating a society where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. Nearly five million people with disabilities participate in VSA arts programs every year through a network of affiliates nationwide and in over 60 countries worldwide. Learn more about VSA arts at www.vsarts.org.

Media Contacts

Maryam Ovissi, VSA arts, 202-607-0754
Marcia Rhodes, VSA arts, 202-628-2800

to top