“Transformation” featuring work by Oshkosh artist Jon Wos debuts at the Kennedy Center June 5
International exhibition by artists with Disabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 19, 2006 – VSA arts announced 23 artists whose work has been selected for “Transformation,” an international juried exhibition by artists with disabilities, which is being exhibited in the Terrace Gallery of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts daily through June 29. “Focus 4” by Jon Wos of Oshkosh (pictured) was one of the pieces selected for the exhibit.

Jon, who has Osteogenisis Imperfecta (brittle bones), says he believes art plays a major role in living with his disability.

“I hold art much higher than the things I wish I could do. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time drawing from bed to occupy my time. It was just natural for me to put time toward my art and that made me a better artist.” His images often reflect his point of view, and challenge the viewer to participate in the experience. “Art is a window to my life, so viewers will find my disability all over my art. Art was one of the few things that helped my self esteem because I could say I was really good at something.” Jonathan recently earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UW-Oshkosh. Jon also won grand prize in a national VSA art contest in 2004; click here for details. Also in 2004, Jonathan's work was selected to represent Wisconsin at the VSA arts International Festival.

“Transformation” invites visitors to reflect on the influence of change. The exhibition includes 75 works of art that illustrate personal experience with disability, learning, and self-discovery. Artists reflect on a pivotal moment or event in life that led them to a greater understanding of themselves in relation to their art. Featured work includes sculpture, installation, portraiture, and photography. The exhibition also features a large outdoor steel sculpture by renowned artist Mark di Suvero on the grounds of the Kennedy Center.

“This exhibition creates a bridge between the artists and viewers to explore life from the perspective of disability,” said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. “We are honored to share the work of these significant and expressive artists.”

The exhibiting artists are:

· Clovis Blackwell – Thousand Oaks, California
· Gregory Burns – Singapore, Singapore
· Candice Bustillos – Brooklyn, New York
· Henry Coupe – Utica, New York
· D. Cameron Cundiff – Cambridge, Massachusetts
· Kelvin Adair Free – Winnipeg, Canada
· Sabine Gruhn – London, United Kingdom
· Gary Hickerson – Jersey City, New Jersey
· Peter Hughes – Brisbane, Australia
· Lihua Lei – Solon, Maine
· Scott Ligon – Fredericksburg, Virginia
· Eric McGehearty – Lewisville, Texas
· Noelle Nevolo – Brighton, Massachusetts
· Kathy Pieper – New York, New York
· Marilena Pilla – Bonate Sopra, Italy
· Vojko Rizvanovic – Salt Lake City, Utah
· Diane Savino – Hatfield, Massachusetts
· Gabrielle Kilian Sims – Ontario, Canada
· Ken Smith – Riverside, Washington
· Taga Tazezo – Tel Aviv, Israel
· Kurt Weston – Huntington Beach, California
· Jon Wos – Oshkosh, Wisconsin
· Anthony J. Zaremba – Whiting, New Jersey

The distinguished jury panel included: Amy Horschak, educator in the Department of Education at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, curator for “Three Generations of Abstract Painting,” at the Hunter College Art Gallery in New York, and co-curator of the 2006 Dakar Biennial in Dakar, Senegal; Stacey Schmidt, independent curator, most recently the associate curator of contemporary art at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, coordinated major traveling exhibitions and composed “Hard Pressed: 600 Years of Prints and Process,” and the independent exhibition “Roy Lichtenstein: Mirrors and Reflections”; Ramon Terleckyj, vice president for artistic planning at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, oversees over 2,000 performances and exhibits each season, serves as a producer, artistic and stage director for popular entertainment and crossover artists; and Jeannine Chartier, executive director of VSA arts of Rhode Island and artist, visual works incorporates both digital technology and mixed media fabrication, referencing images of personal and political identity, serves as an advisory board member of Project New Directions at RISD and on Governor Almond’s Literacy in the Arts Task Force.

The jury reviewed over 300 submissions from artists with disabilities ages 22 and over.

Visit www.vsarts.org for more information on “Transformation.”

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.

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