9/11 Tribute By Nashville Artist
Accepted By MDA Art Collection

"Won't Back Down 9-11" by Jan Blaustone

TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 28, 2002 — A tribute to fire fighters lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, painted by Jan Blaustone of Nashville, Tenn., has been accepted by the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Art Collection. Now in its 11th year, the Collection features artwork by people from across the country with neuromuscular diseases.

"Won't Back Down 9-11" was inspired by a photograph Blaustone found on the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Web site. The photograph depicted fire fighters searching for survivors in the post-attack rubble of the World Trade Center. They worked under the shadow of the American flag, as seen through a burned-out window.

Blaustone's interpretation is darker and more abstract than the photograph, creating a haunting image that captures both the horror of the attack and the bravery of the fire fighters who risked – and lost – their lives in the rescue effort.

"It was no surprise for me to see that 60 of the 343 fire fighters who perished on Sept. 11 were off duty," said Blaustone, who herself has served as a fire fighter. "I hope this painting will be a reminder for all of us of their devoted spirits."

Blaustone, 46, is affected by limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, a condition that causes weakness in the muscles of the face, shoulders, upper arms and legs.

"Won't Back Down 9-11" is Blaustone's fourth contribution to the MDA Art Collection, following her 1997 donation of "Wine Country," a watercolor painting; "Walk on the Beach," a chalk drawing; and "Papa Cardinal," an oil pastel drawing.

Blaustone, a teacher, public speaker and writer, is the author of two books, "Every Family is Special: Love Comes First" and "The Joy of Parenthood." She frequently writes for MDA's bimonthly national magazine, Quest.

Blaustone has served as a member of MDA's National Task Force on Public Awareness since 1994, and is on its steering committee. During the 2000 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, she was presented with the Association's National Personal Achievement Award for 2001.

"We're honored to have such a poignant and deeply moving reminder of the heroism of our fire fighter friends in the permanent MDA Art Collection," MDA President & CEO Robert Ross said of the new painting. The IAFF is a longtime sponsor of MDA.

The new addition by Blaustone will be exhibited at MDA's national headquarters in Tucson, Ariz., and will be included in MDA Art Collection traveling exhibits. The Collection, established in 1992 to focus attention on the achievements of artists with disabilities, and to emphasize that physical disability is no barrier to creativity, comprises more than 270 works by artists ages 2 to 82 and represents all 50 states.

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat neuromuscular diseases through worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. MDA maintains a clinic at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.