VSA arts International Children’s Art Exhibit at Union Station in June

May 25, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 25, 2006 – VSA arts "A View From My Window," international children’s art exhibit, will debut at Union Station in Washington, D.C., on June 5. The exhibit includes art by students with disabilities, grades K-12, from the United States, Albania, Argentina, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. As part of the VSA arts Start with the Arts Family Festival, "A View From My Window," runs through June 25.

The theme for "A View From My Window" encouraged young artists with disabilities to capture a snapshot of their life through painting, drawing, or sculpture and explain why it makes their "window," or perspective, unique. Eleven artists were chosen as representatives and invited to Washington, to participate in a Congressional reception on June 8 where they will be honored.

"This exhibit at Union Station will give people from all over the world a chance to view and understand the importance of art and how it affects the lives of children with disabilities," said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts.

The participating artists are:

Anna Wallace, age 11, Birmingham, Alabama
Aaron Craver, age 14, Eagle River, Alaska
Lidia Capa, age 18, Tirane, Albania
Leadro Maximiliano Ruiz, age 17, San Miguel, Argentina
William West, age 7, Tucson, Arizona
Gerald Washington, age 17, Conway, Arkansas
Brianna Simpson, age 9, Stockton, California
Santiago Gallegos, age 19, Denver, Colorado
Mr. Carmen Loffredo’s class, Nathan Hale Middle School, Norwalk, Connecticut
Brendan Myers, age 8, Middletown, Delaware
Jackie Coleman, age 22, District of Columbia
Karen Arizaga Mera, age 19, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Shavada Jones, age 16, Fort Pierce, Florida
Kelsey Johnson, age 10, Atlanta, Georgia
Frank Vehec, age 18, Kapolei, Hawaii
Donald Messenger, age 10, Boise, Idaho
Grant Tulacro, age 11, Aurora, Illinois
Timothy Witham, age 18, Indianapolis, Indiana
Kendra Poulson, age 15, Swisher, Iowa
Accessible Arts Discovery Trails program, Kansas City, Kansas
Brian Bruner, age 12, Clarkson, Kentucky
Hallie Herring, age 14, Alexandria, Louisiana
Michael Rich, age 16, Trenton, Maine
Sukarno Jones, Jr., age 7, Annapolis, Maryland
Keturah Sarai Urena, age 9, Dorchester, Massachusetts
Joshua Pryor, age 15, Pontiac, Michigan
Naomi Staples, age 10, Clear Lake, Minnesota
Amy Barenis, age 19, Greenville, Mississippi
Kristjan Hirsch, age 10, Jefferson City, Missouri
Michael DeMott, age 12, Missoula, Montana
Annastasia Krajicek, age 16, Papillon, Nebraska
David Skinner, age 10, Sparks, Nevada
Pat L., age 10, Northfield, New Hampshire
Kevin Thompson, age 16, Middletown, New Jersey
Rachel Scott, age 13, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Derren Jean, age 18, Saint Albans, New York
Richard Hiatt, age 17, Climax, North Carolina
Caleb Wanchic, age 5, Lincoln, North Dakota
Pamela Fisher, age 19, Johnstown, Ohio
Jacob Selzer, age 15, Lindsay, Oklahoma
Dustin Pounders, age 9, Hood River, Oregon
Connor McCann, age 10, Newtown, Pennsylvania
Meredith Wyatt, age 15, Lincoln, Rhode Island
Duaa Mahmoud Mohammed Al-Maghrabi, age 16, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Kenneth Lee Chee Weng, age 14, Singapore, Singapore
Tres Bolding, age 15, Columbia, South Carolina
Isaac Lund, age 8, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Nirosha Priyadarshani Fernando, age 13, Moraguwa, Sri Lanka
Courtney Ervin, Madison, Tennessee
Chris Parent, age 15, Cedar Park, Texas
Isaac Bell, age 8, Salt Lake City, Utah
Thomas Chase, age 5, Grand Isle, Vermont
Abigail Turner, age 10, Richmond, Virginia
Christopher Dokken, age 14, Seattle, Washington
Travis Martin, age 14, Morgantown, West Virginia
Christoph Schuhmacher, age 14, Ixonia, Wisconsin
James Lennon, age 18, Casper, Wyoming

The VSA arts Start with the Arts Family Festival is a month-long celebration of the arts featuring artists with disabilities of all ages, focusing on two days of activities at Union Station, June 9-10.

VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Media Contact

Marcia Rhodes / VSA arts, (202) 628-2800, ext. 3883, marciar@vsarts.org