“Blind Visionaries”
Lakewood Cultural Center to showcase the works of visually impaired photographers through a multimedia concert and exhibition
Concert Tickets On Sale Now Ahead of April 21 Event

Learn more about what it means to truly “see” when the Lakewood Cultural Center presents “Blind Visionaries,” a captivating musical performance inspired by the works of visually impaired photographers.

Slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 21 at the Lakewood Cultural Center (470 S. Allison Parkway), “Blind Visionaries” features original jazz music by the Daniel Kelly Trio and showcases the talents of New York City’s Seeing With Photography Collective, a group of visually impaired and sighted photographers who create colorful, thought-provoking visual art. It also gives featured artists a chance to share their experiences with blindness, both through storytelling and by displaying the works they created through an innovative process known as “Light Painting.”

“This is an event that will make you question everything you think you know about creative endeavors and what it means to have an artistic ‘eye,’” said Lakewood Cultural Center Administrator Rita Sommers. “While you’ll hear some great music and see some spectacular art, you’ll also learn a lot about how vision – or a lack of it – impacts imagination, perception and an artist’s overall sense of creative expression, and ultimately how the creative process is transformative for both the maker and the audience.”

Tickets for “Blind Visionaries” start at $25 and are available for purchase online, over the phone or at the Lakewood Cultural Center Box Office. A selection of “Light Paintings” from the Seeing with Photography Collective will be on display in the Lakewood Cultural Center lobby starting Friday, April 7. (No ticket required.)

Ahead of the Blind Visionaries concert, check out a supplementary exhibition, “Seeing Requires Not Sight,” a sensory and touch-friendly experience featuring the creative contributions of visually impaired and sighted artisans. The exhibit has American Disabilities Act digitally accessible elements and runs from Friday, Feb. 10 through Monday, April 3 at the Cultural Center, with no tickets or reservations necessary.

“’Blind Visionaries,’ ‘Seeing Requires Not Sight’ and the ‘Light Paintings’ display coalesce as an ongoing effort by the Lakewood Cultural Center to increase engagement within the arts among individuals of all abilities,” said Laine Godsey, arts programming curator. “These are some of LCC’s latest efforts to feature exhibitions and events intentionally highlighting accessibility within the arts, aiming to make programs for our community that are inclusive of everyone.”

To purchase tickets for the “Blind Visionaries” concert, visit the Lakewood Cultural Center Box Office, call 303-987-7845 or buy online. For more about the “Blind Visionaries” performance and “Seeing Requires Not Sight” exhibition at the Lakewood Cultural Center, check out Lakewood.org/Exhibitions. 

Additional information:

- Seeing Requires Not Sight exhibit, also presenting works by a blind artist, is on display now through Apr 3. The primary artist, Emily Zimmerman is a blind artist and an advocate for the blind and is available for interviews.

- Seeing Requires Not Sight has incorporated accessible elements including an audio tour, Braille tags and signage and is a fully touchable/hands-on exhibit.

- Blind Visionaries, light paintings will be on display as of Apr 7, ahead of the show, free of charge.

- Daniel Kelly and one of the artists from The Collective will be available for interviews Apr 20 and 21.

Video content is below and photos in high and low-res are attached.                                                                 

Daniel Kelly : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrKUXiYWuw0&list=PLRc80SW8A9aa_taOtrNgcCwKSfg8aLv4Z