The power of art

Michelle Chrisman's talent and love of photography has led to her work being exhibited at several shows in Missouri and the sale of several of her photographs, an accomplishment for any 14-year-old, but even more so for Chrisman, who has Down syndrome.

Chrisman, from Blue Springs, Mo., is one of eight artists involved in VSA arts of Missouri whose work will be on display this month at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

VSA is a nonprofit organization with affiliates in 49 states and 60 countries.

It was created in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith (appointed American ambassador to Ireland in 1993) as a means to provide people with disabilities access to the arts. The organization offers a wide range of programs that cover creative writing, the visual arts, dance, drama and music.

"It provides different kinds of outlets for them to be artistic," said Lisa Kemper, executive director of VSA arts of Missouri. She said people involved in VSA range widely in age and artistic experience, as well as their disabilities.

"We define disability very broadly, it includes the hidden as well as those we can see," Kemper said.

"Nine percent of the population has some kind of documented disability," she said. "These people need opportunities for artistic expression just like everyone else."

Based in Colombia, Mo., VSA arts of Missouri offers children's art festivals in Kansas City and St. Louis and eight-week art workshops in Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia and Jefferson City. They also offer the VSA/ITT Career Development Festival, which introduces people with disabilities to art-oriented careers and Ramp Art, an annual art exhibit and sale in Columbia.

"We are working to expand even further," Kemper said.

The artwork in Cape Girardeau is part of a traveling exhibit that will be going on to Columbia in July.

One of the artists exhibiting work in the traveling exhibit is Russel Hughes of Kirksville, Mo.

Hughes, a Korean War veteran, has multiple disabilities, including carpal tunnel and arthritis that cause a great deal of pain in his hands.

Instead of taking medication, however, Hughes said he picks up the paintbrush. "When I hurt that bad, I paint," he said. "It's my only outlet, I've got to do something."

Hughes only began painting five years ago at the suggestion of a counselor at the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Entirely self-taught, Hughes credits a good deal of his ability to genetics, as his grandfather was a professional painter. "I had a talent I didn't know I had," he said.

Although he works through the pain, Hughes said his disabilities do delay the progress of his work. One of his works on display at the arts council, titled "Praha," took Hughes 14 months to complete.

"Praha" is a 22 inches by 30 inches oil painting that depicts the city of Prague before the bombs of World War II decimated it. Hughes used old photographs on postcards as a guide.

The arts council exhibit marks the first time Hughes' artwork has been shown in a gallery, and he said he is a little scared because he is worried that people may judge his art on his disabilities and not on its merit alone.

Michelle Chrisman, however, loves having her work on exhibit, according to her mother, Diane Chrisman, who said Michelle goes up to people who have purchased one of her photographs and asks if they would like to buy another.

The Chrismans got involved with VSA when Diane Chrisman saw a brief article in the newspaper about the organization holding workshops in the school district.

"Michelle always liked to take pictures," she said. However, it was not until the intervention of a professional photographer at Special Olympics that Diane Chrisman knew that her daughter had more than a mere interest in photography.

The photographer let Michelle take a roll of film with his camera. When he sent back the developed photos, the photographer told Diane Chrisman that her daughter had a natural ability and was taking photographs that most people would have to take lessons to achieve.

"It was kind of a surprise for him to say that and it was really exciting to because since then we got involved in VSA," Diane Chrisman said.

In addition to the VSA exhibit, the arts council will also feature prints by Minnesota artist Delia Jurek, who will give a gallery talk at 6:30 p.m. For First Friday night only, artist renderings of the Mississippi River Tales murals will be on display at the arts council. These panels can be purchased for $5,000, with part of the proceeds going toward the costs of painting the murals on the floodwall.

To find out more about VSA arts of Missouri, go to www.showmevsa.com or contact Kemper at (573) 875-2872.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182