A collection of original works by artists with
muscle diseases
The
Culture of Disability * Exhibits *
Support the Collection
The Muscular Dystrophy Association Art Collection
was established in 1992 to focus attention on the
achievements of artists with disabilities and to
emphasize that physical disability is no barrier
to creativity. The Collection, on permanent display
at MDA National Headquarters in Tucson, Ariz., comprises
more than 360 original works by adults and children
who have any of the muscle diseases in MDA's
program. Artists in the Collection represent all
50 states and range in age from 2 to 82.
The MDA Art Collection is one of the most varied
collections in the nation. The versatility attests
to the imagination and talent of the artists. The
Collection features unusual artistic media, from
digital designs to collages with corn, to paint
applied with wheelchair wheels and human feet. There
are also many works in more traditional oils, watercolors,
acrylics, pen and ink, crayons, pastels, bronze,
ceramics and photography. Subject matter ranges
from self-portraits to landscapes, and from still
lifes to outer space fantasies.
In addition to showcasing the work of talented
artists who are affected by muscle diseases,
the Collection allows the artists to articulate
their distinctive vision of living with a disability.
The
Culture of Disability * Exhibits *
Support the Collection
THE CULTURE
OF DISABILITY
The MDA Art Collection illustrates the emergence
of artists with a sense of pride in their experiences,
including those as people with disabilities. Their
work is an important element in, and vehicle for,
the unique culture of disability. These works provide
those served by MDA with the opportunity to visually
communicate their experiences with muscle
diseases.
The
Culture of Disability * Exhibits *
Support the Collection
EXHIBITS
MDA Art Collection exhibits are initiated by either
MDA or the host location. All exhibits are underwritten
by the participating facility or by corporate/individual
sponsors.
Exhibits typically consist of 20 to 40 works and
vary in duration from about four to eight weeks.
The curator selects the works to be shown at each
individual venue. Some exhibits emphasize range
and diversity while others have a specific focus
(e.g. landscapes, self-portraits, etc.).
Selected art from the Collection has been exhibited
at the Dallas Museum of Art; Cork Gallery at Lincoln
Center and The Forbes Collection in New York;
Tucson Museum of Art; Bishop Museum in Honolulu;
Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library
Center; Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art; Los Angeles
Children's Museum; JFK Center at Vanderbilt University,
Nashville, Tenn.; Philbrook Museum, Tulsa, Okla; Capital Children's Museum, Washington,
D.C.; and the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn,
Mich.
To date, the MDA Art Collection has been viewed
by over 3 million people nationwide.
The
Culture of Disability * Exhibits *
Support the Collection
SUPPORT THE
COLLECTION
The Muscular Dystrophy Association welcomes your
support of its Art Collection and its programs of
worldwide research, comprehensive services and public
health education covering muscle diseases.
The Association's programs are funded almost entirely
by individual private contributors.
Contributions to MDA, a voluntary non-profit
health agency, are tax-deductible.
For more information about sponsorship of the MDA
Art Collection or any other aspect of the Collection,
please contact:
MDA Art Collection
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718-3299
(520) 529-2000
communityprograms@mdausa.org
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