FALL ART FESTIVAL

NJ Library Celebrates 40 Years

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The New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped (LBH) recently celebrated its 40th anniversary by hosting a fall festival at its headquarters in Trenton.

“LBH opened its doors to the public in 1967 and has been serving New Jerseyans with print disabilities ever since. LBH’s biennial fall festival is a fitting occasion on which to celebrate its 40th anniversary,” said Faith Lundgren, the library’s director.

This year’s festival, themed Accessibility in the Arts, celebrated the perspective and abilities that individuals with visual impairments bring to the arts. Keynote addresses were given by Grounds for Sculpture and artist Ken Woodard.

Grounds for Sculpture discussed the programs they offer and their accessible sculpture tours, and they provided a handson sculpture exhibit table. Grounds for Sculpture, is a 35- acre public sculpture park located in Hamilton.

Woodard, an Atlantic City native and LBH customer, has been a commercially successful artist, featured at EuroDisney-Paris. He also specializes in creating menus for renowned restaurants and magazine advertisements.

He spoke about how his artistry has been affected by a recent visual impairment and the technology he uses to continue to paint. He has received many awards, both national and international, including the 2006 Donald Sykes Award.

Jon Gabry, who is deaf and blind, gave a presentation with the help of his mother, his interpreter. He is a member of the Middle Atlantic Blind Golfers Association and the rock- climbing club at his high school. This year he received the Very Special Arts of New Jersey Student Arts Excellence Award.