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Ohio Disabled Artists Showcase Their Skills
By: Connor Briggs
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This month marks the 17th annual Accessible Expressions Ohio Exhibit, a chance for artists with disabilities to showcase their work.
The exhibit is being displayed thanks to a partnership between the Fairfield County Board of Developmental Disabilities and VSA Ohio.
VSA Ohio was founded in 1986 and aims to provide inclusive environments and opportunities for people with disabilities to express their passions through art.
John Bosser, community outreach coordinator for the board, says the statewide touring exhibit showcases artists of all ages.
"Accessible Expressions Ohio is an exhibit where they usually get four to 500 submissions each year. Whittle that down to like 100 pieces, that made its debut back in February and it is now broken up into four exhibits that are traveling around the state," said Bosser.
The program began in 1996 to challenege perceptions and raise awareness about the arts and abilities of every citizen.
The exhibit just finished up at Ohio University-Lancaster and will be in Columbus this month.
Bosser says he is involved with many organizations that support disabled artists.
One is the Blue Shoe Arts Studio.
"Artists create work and sell it, and that's how they make their money, and it's a great opportunity for them to kind of use their creative juices," said Bosser.
The Accessible Expressions Ohio Exhibit features approximately 20 pieces of art from more than 130 submitted this year.