VSA Celebrates President Kennedy’s Legacy of Supporting Civil Rights for People with Disabilities

Large-scale art installations by artists with disabilities featured in the Kennedy Center Hall of States

Washington, DC (Vocus/PRWEB) January 19, 2011

VSA, the international organization on arts and disability and an affiliate of the Kennedy Center, honors President Kennedy’s commitment to disability rights as part of The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration―a three week-long series of performances and events featuring music, theater, dance, exhibitions, and poetry―by presenting three large-scale visual arts installations by artists with disabilities Jan. 12–Feb. 13, 2011, in the Kennedy Center Hall of States.

In 1963, President Kennedy signed the first major legislation addressing mental illness and intellectual disabilities. As a result of this landmark legislation, people with disabilities are recognized as having the right to live with dignity and to be contributing members of society. VSA, founded by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, commissioned three large-scale visual arts installations by art studios inclusive of artists with mental illness and intellectual disabilities as part of the Kennedy Center’s celebration:

• Art Enables’ artists created Diverse Design, a larger-than-life installation that includes decorated benches, birdhouses, pottery, and paintings, as well as a backdrop by Charles Meissner that pays homage to the studio’s home city of Washington, D.C.
• From New York City the Fountain Gallery brings a three-part sculptural installation, Finding the Way to Balance, which addresses the extremes of bipolar disorder, conceptualized by lead artist Bernie Stote.
• The Arts of Life of Chicago presents an installation featuring human-scale handmade puppets and a parade of ten-foot tall paintings, inspired by the artists’ chosen theme, “Sticky Situations.”

“The civil rights legislation signed by President Kennedy set the stage for artists with disabilities to participate fully in today’s art world,” commented Jennifer Wexler, VSA director of visual arts. “The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration is an exciting and inclusive event for anyone who cares deeply about the roles of the arts and artists in this nation.”

About VSA

VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all. With 52 international affiliates and a network of nationwide affiliates, VSA is changing perceptions about people with disabilities around the world. Each year, 7 million people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs, which cover all artistic genres. VSA is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, visit http://www.vsarts.org.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/1/prweb8065903.htm