SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
TO HOST MDA ART EXHIBIT

TUCSON, Ariz., Sept.10, 2003 — Second Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, Va., will feature 21 selected works of art from the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Art Collection. The exhibit, called Barrier Free, is scheduled to begin on Sept. 21 and will run through Nov. 2.

The Collection features artwork by children and adults from across the country, who challenge the obstacles imposed by neuromuscular diseases. The exhibit will consist of nine pieces created by young artists and 12 works by adult artists. It includes two pieces by local artists.

“At the Barre” is an acrylic painting by Roanoke resident and lifelong artist Lee Baker, featuring a touching scene of a young ballerina. Baker worked with the church to bring the MDA exhibit to Roanoke.

Salem resident Wilson Long’s “Looking a Head” is a bright and colorful self-portrait done as a collage.

In 1891, Second Presbyterian Church was founded to accommodate a growing number of Roanoke worshippers. The church continues to grow and spread its mission of inspired worship, quality education, service to those in need and warm fellowship.

Second Presbyterian Church is located at 214 Mountain Ave. For directions or more information about the exhibit, call (540) 343-3659 or visit www.spres.org.

“It’s a great honor to have a portion of our Collection on display at Second Presbyterian Church,” MDA President & CEO Robert Ross said. “We’re inspired by the talented children and adults who have contributed to the Collection and delighted to share their remarkable works with the people of Roanoke.”

The Collection’s permanent home is MDA’s national headquarters in Tucson, Ariz. Samples of the Collection can also be seen at www.mda.org/commprog/art. The 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 currently comprises some 300 works by artists aged 2 to 82 and represents all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Each artist is affected by one of the neuromuscular diseases in the MDA program.

Selected art from the Collection has been exhibited at the Art Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke; Dallas Museum of Art; Cork Gallery at Lincoln Center and Forbes Magazine Galleries 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.; Fresno Metropolitan Museum; Duluth Art Institute; Capital Children’s Museum, Washington, D.C.; and the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn, Mich.

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. MDA maintains clinics for area adults and children affected by neuromuscular diseases at the Roanoke Neurological Center.

The Association’s programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors.