Portraits of Ability: 25 Stories of Independence and Inspiration

[Mary Cobb]

Please join us on October 7 for the public gallery opening of Portraits of Ability: 25 Stories of Independence and Inspiration, a powerful photojournalism art exhibit featuring the people Via serves functioning capably in their world.

Curated by VSA Colorado, Portraits of Ability features the distinctive style of visual storyteller Sophie Klafter, the recipient of the 2014 VSA Emerging Young Artist Award of Excellence from the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Ms. Klafter is a young photographer living with an inherited neuromuscular disorder whose portrait art serves to dispel continuing myths of disability and age. By fully immersing into her subject's home, family, possessions, present challenges and life dreams, the photographer is able to capture the spirit of the individual in the final image. Each of the 25 subjects is incredibly unique; however, all share a common theme - that of striving to not be defined by disability or age. Yet paradoxically, by authentically connecting to, rather than denying physical challenges, Sophie and her subjects transcend personal limitations and allow the spirit to ring loud and clear.

Portraits of Ability employs the power of visual storytelling to transform personal narrative into public meaning and demands the audience to ask what are we doing to support these lives?

VSA Colorado/Access Gallery is the state organization on disabilities and the arts whose purpose is to create opportunities for people with disabilities to access and experience the arts.    www.accessgallery.org

Via is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting independence and self-sufficiency for people living with mobility limitations and providing caring, customer-focused transportation options. Via serves over 20 communities in five Colorado counties.  www.viacolorado.org