Bradford Resident Chosen as International Fellow
August 15, 2003
- Kong Ho is one of 12 international artists selected from more than 100 entries - Honorees to exhibit art work at the United Nations on December 3rd
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2003 (Washington, D.C.) - VSA arts, an international nonprofit organization that provides opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities, today announced that Kong Ho of Bradford, Pennsylvania has been chosen as an International Fellow for the 2004 International VSA arts Festival, to be held June 9-12, 2004 in Washington, D.C. The theme of the Festival is Odyssey: DARE to Imagine and Kong Ho is one of 12 visual artists chosen out of a pool of more than 100 entrants to represent VSA arts as an International Fellow. A renowned muralist, Kong will serve as an ambassador for the organization in the months leading up to the Festival.
Kong derives much of his imagery from his cultural heritage, and his interest in science and mathematics. His multi-layering of symbols creates a dynamic surface that contrasts form, texture, and color. Paralyzed from polio, Kong has a BA from the University of Hong Kong and an MFA from Texas Tech University.
Our Fellows are each a testament to the power of the arts in the lives of people with disabilities, said Soula Antoniou, President of VSA arts. These 12 International Fellows are role models for future artists. Moreover, the excellence of their work sets the tone for what will be an incredible week-long celebration of the arts.
Kongs journey as an artist includes work as a faculty member at the University of Hong Kong, the founder and chairman of the Hong Kong Mural Society and, currently, as an assistant professor at the university of Pittsburgh. Kong, whose works have been exhibited in more than 70 international and regional shows, creates images that instill a sense of tension and drama by integrating visual concepts of order and disorder.
In addition to exhibiting at the 2004 International VSA arts Festival, each artist will share their work through a community project in their respective countries and hometowns. These artists will be participating in a United Nations exhibit, December 3, 2003, in New York City, celebrating the UN International Day of People with Disabilities.
Held every five years, the 2004 International VSA arts Festival is an opportunity for the public to witness and celebrate the creativity and talent of people with disabilities. The organizations largest and most important event, the Festival gives participants an exciting opportunity to discuss, learn, and explore issues in the arts that are significant to people with disabilities.
The Festival will mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of VSA arts and will include artistic performances, exhibitions, and an educational conference in venues throughout Washington D.C., including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Union Station.
For more information on the 2004 International VSA arts Festival, please contact Shaena Muldoon at (800) 933-8721 or visit the Festival Web site at www.vsartsfestival.org.
About VSA arts
VSA arts is an international non-profit organization founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith to promote education and lifelong learning opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities. Nearly five million people participate in VSA arts programs annually through a worldwide network of affiliate organizations across the nation and in more than 60 countries. VSA arts programs in music, dance, drama, creative writing, and the visual arts develop learning skills, encourage independence, and promote access and inclusion.
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