SATURDAY'S SADI FAIR FEATURES LOCAL ART TALENT

Kevin Johnson believes art is more than just color. It also consists of time, patience, effort and understanding.

The color, time, patience and effort are apparent in the pictures he draws, mostly portraits with vivid backgrounds. As for understanding, he is seeking more of it by showing his work at the Disability Talent and Resource Fair that the Semo Alliance for Disability Independence is sponsoring Saturday.

At the fair, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Osage Community Center, Johnson will be showing his work along with four other disabled artists.

"We as disabled are just as capable of doing things as others," Johnson said as he laid out a tableful of his art. "That's why I wanted to me in the fair, to show I am just as capable of doing things like art."

The resource part of the fair consists of more than 30 agencies, support groups and vendors providing information and demonstrations about their programs, said Laura Marie Stoner, resource specialist with SADI.

"The talent part of the fair is to get people to look past our disabilities and at our abilities," said Stoner, whose disabilities are related to her osteoarthritis and whose abilities include authoring and illustrating four Christian children's coloring books and writing poetry. She'll also do face painting at Saturday's fair.

Johnson's ability is drawing, something he said he's been doing all his life.

"It's a God-given talent," he said of his ability to capture faces on paper.

But epileptic seizures have interfered with Johnson's desire to pursue a career as an artist.

"I've thought about college, and friends and family have encouraged me. But I've had this situation with my health which had me down for a few years," said Johnson, who is 29.

He began attending SADI support group meetings last year and was told about the fair.

Now he's on medication to control his seizures and he hopes the display of his work at the talent and resource fair will be the beginning of a career in art.

Johnson uses color markers and pencils for most of his work. He likes doing portraits of celebrities and sports figures.

One picture shows Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holding a basketball over his head in front of a colorful crowd. One is a somber portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. Johnson also has done portraits of Janet Jackson, Vanessa Williams and Malcolm X.

But perhaps the most striking picture is an abstract drawing of two women in traditional African robes with a map of Africa in the background.

"I did this as a housewarming gift for a friend who really gets into African history," Johnson said, though he added he's not giving the present until after he shows it at the talent and resource fair.

"I like pulling out different ideas and details to create something positive, Johnson said.

About the fair

The Disability Talent and Resource Fair, sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Alliance for Disability Independence (SADI), will be 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Osage Community Center, 1625 N. Kingshighway. Admission is free.

SEMO-Tech will provide adaptive toy demonstrations. Donna Jacobs of St. Louis and her service dog Patra, named 1999 service team of the year by the National Council for Disabilities, will attend. For children, there will be face painting and treats.

Artists with disabilities will show their work and there will be performances by area musicians with disabilities.

For more information, call SADI at 651-6464.