tbeyond sight

managing editor

The artists featured in the Philadelphia Museum of Art's new exhibit "Art Beyond Sight" lack vision.

That is not to say that they do not possess skill or creativity. The 55 artists whose work is currently on display in thP Education Corridor of the museum are all' legally blind.

The new exhibit is a celebration of the 25th anniversary of National Exhibits by Blind Artists. Many of the artists are regional talents, hailing from the Delaware Valley area. But other works are from various states throughout the United States and there is even a work from Scotland on display.

Over 70 works of various media are featured, including over 30 sculptures of clay, wood and paper-mache. Watercolor works, photographs and weaving are also on view.

The sculptures are the most striking of the works, nearly all are models of people and faces in various poses and emotions. "Brigette," a paper-mache sculpture by Carol Saylor, nearly comes alive in the soft lines of her face and her dark, deep eyes.

The youngest artist whose work is shown is Basia Gorski, a 13-year-old from Pennsylvania. Her "Donkey and a Tree," done in tempera paint, show a use of color and brush strokes that would be remarkable for any child, let alone a child without sight.

"Art Beyond Sight," which opened on Sept. 15 and runs through Nov. 14, is presented by the NEBA in conjunction with the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Office of Special Audiences.

Because of the nature of the exhibit, provisions have been made by the Museum's Office of Special Audiences to assist blind or low-vision visitors. Labels are Brailled and in large print and audio descriptions are available, as are black and white photographs of the works. Self-guided touch tours of sculpture are also available.

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