Saint Martin's University and Capps Art Gallery sponsor "Access: Art of Disability Culture"
August 23, 2006
A chance conversation about art has blossomed into a
new show at the Saint Martin’s Abbey’s Capps Gallery at Saint Martin’s
University. Last spring, Laura Puryear-Finnell, the University’s
director of disability services and Amber DiGerlando, a local artist,
were talking about art and its meaning to artists with disabilities.
Puryear-Finnell had been looking for ways to increase awareness in the
community about the accomplishments of people with disabilities. After
talking with Br. Luke Devine, O.S.B., curator of the Abbey’s Capps
Gallery, the idea for a show featuring artists with disabilities was
developed.
The show, Access: Art of Disability Culture, opens
in the Capps Gallery, 4th floor of Old Main, Room 432 on the Saint
Martin’s University campus on Friday, September 1 and will run through
December 2, 2006. The exhibition opening on September 1 will feature a
reception and conversations with the artists from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Gallery. A sign language interpreter will be on
hand for the opening. Regular Gallery hours are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
on Fridays and Saturdays. Audio descriptions of the works will be
available in the Gallery after September 1. Admission to the opening and
the continuing exhibition is free.
The exhibition features the art of Amber DiGerlando,
Olympia, mixed media and printmaking; Steve Swindell, Aberdeen, painter;
Mitchell Levy, Kirkland, who creates sculpture and functional objects
with found materials; Leslie Storer, Olympia, collage; Marcy Deutsch,
Yelm, colored pencil nature art; Shirley Cooper, Shelton, mixed media
and painting; and other artists.
To access the Gallery, enter the Saint Martin’s
University campus from 6th and College Street in Lacey. Visitor parking
is available behind the Abbey Church. Disability parking is available in
the lane parallel to Old Main. Elevator access to the fourth floor is
available through the north end of Old Main.
Contact:
Laura Puryear-Finnell
360-438-4580
lpuryearfinnell@stmartin.edu
Carleen Jackson
360-438-4485
carleenj@stmartin.edu