Paintings, sculptures and other works by blind and visually impaired artists are on display at the Coral Gables Museum through Nov. 1. The exhibition, called “America Touched, America Seen,” features artists from the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Among them is Victor Brown, who stood beside a large American flag he made with macramé, a technique of knotting cords into patterns. Brown, who lost his remaining sight after a retinal detachment in 2007, also builds sculptures from popsicle sticks and glue. Aaron Hill, supervisor of fine arts and arts education at the Lighthouse, said Brown plans each sculpture in his head before he starts.
The show also includes work by elementary school students from the Lighthouse. Their art decorates soccer balls hanging from the ceiling of the exhibition space.
Virginia Jacko, president and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse, said the artists have shown that blind people can do anything sighted people can do, though sometimes in a different way. Brown, a law school graduate who practiced with the state of Florida, said he hopes visitors will see people who are blind as having more worth.
