Lenny Gerard knows firsthand about disability. He had been volunteering as an art teacher at the Braille Institute for a few years when he had a freak accident that paralyzed him from the neck down. Once he recovered just enough, he had an epiphany to leave the corporate world and devote himself full time to being an artist and educator. This month, 30 of his student artists ages 18 to 82 will show 50 of their artworks in a group exhibition titled “Through My Eyes.”
“I had my accident three years ago, and I had three surgeries,” explained Gerard. “I had to relearn how to walk after each one. But I would go to the Braille Institute on a walker because I love it so much. I went back as soon as I could — the first thing I wanted to do was go back.”
Gerard teaches Abstract Expressionism, a class he developed, and printmaking to the blind and visually impaired. His goal for the exhibition was to highlight their voices rather than their disabilities. He has even pioneered a technique for his students: They put raised objects in the printing press to emboss paper, so students can feel what they’ve done. . . .
Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.
Jessica Koslow 