Art Alumna in National Juried Exhibit Opening at University Galleries

Date: 9/20/06
Contact: Marc Lebovitz

An Illinois State University School of Art alumna is among 15 young artists included in "Shifting Gears," a touring exhibit of work by artists with disabilities, which will be shown at the University Galleries from Oct. 3 to 22.

Chicagoan Hannah Miller's work, "Stilled Life," was included in the exhibition which opened at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C. exactly one year ago. A panel of experts reviewed 215 submissions from artists ages 16 to 25. Miller received a $2,000 Award of Excellence for her work. It is the fourth year for the juried show.

The campus showing is sponsored by Illinois State University's Office of Disability Concerns, which selected this time for the art exhibition because October is National Disability Awareness Month. There will be an opening reception for "Shifting Gears" from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, with remarks by President Al Bowman followed by comments from artist Hannah Miller.

"Shifting Gears" was created by VSA arts and Volkswagen of America, Inc., and is designed to support and encourage young people with disabilities. Artists are encouraged to evoke this year's theme, which was to reflect on a pivotal moment in their life that led to a greater understanding of themselves in relation to their art and their disability.

Miller, who is 24, pursued music, writing and the visual arts from an early age and currently is working in photography. She has muscular dystrophy and scoliosis, and references disability throughout her work. "Stilled Life" comes from a series that elicits disability and its effects on how Miller experiences the world, she said. She lists her most influential teachers as Sarah Smelser, Jin Lee, Nancy Fewkes, LJ Douglas and Shona MacDonald of Illinois State's School of Art.

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 to support arts based teaching and learning in schools and communities.