Blind students create visual art

Saturday, May 27, 2000 | 10:16 a.m.

Sixty-five-year-old Carl Wilson sat at a folding table, hands covered in dust from the clay as he worked over the ceramic owl.

"What I'm doing is cleaning it up," he said. "I'm getting all the seams and ridges out of it."

Using scrubbers to sand the rough edges, he rested the owl on sponge padding so it wouldn't break.

Wilson can't see the owl. He says he can barely see his hand in front of him.

Born with glaucoma, Wilson lost most of his sight nearly eight years ago, forcing him to leave his job as a blackjack dealer at a local casino.

Three years ago he walked into the Las Vegas Blind Center and began sanding and painting ceramic pieces.

Wilson is one of 45 blind and visually impaired students who come to the center to work on arts and crafts projects, proving that sight isn't always required to create visual art.

"This is how I see," said Wilson, holding up his hands.

Before coming to the center, Wilson said, he knew nothing about ceramics. Identifying the objects for the first time was difficult. "You got to feel it and learn what it is," he said. "Things get interesting to you when you get into this."

Wilson said he plans to paint the owl brown. He runs his hands over the eyes and explains they will be black.

His yellow bull will be entered next week in the Nevada State Ceramic Association's 36th Annual Ceramic, Craft and Doll Show with 30 other student pieces. Last year he won the Freddy Award -- the highest award given for the ceramic competition -- for his fish platter.

The show and the bazaar, which is held at the center in November, are two opportunities for students to showcase their work. The 35-year-old center at 1001 Bruce St. teaches crafts, ceramics, braille and basic computer skills and provides a work program.

It relies heavily on community support. "Otherwise we wouldn't be here," Law said.

Its on-site mop project, which provides mops to government warehouses, creates part-time work for some of the blind clients and helps fund the center. Remaining funds come from corporate and private donations.

But ceramics have pretty much taken over the white brick building that stands next to the center's administrative building.

When people first come to the center, they say they can't do anything, Catherine Law, director of the center, said. "I tell them they can do anything but drive a car."

Law starts most everybody in ceramics. Others work in rug-hooking or make jewelry, ornaments and afghans. Some weave cane for furniture that customers bring in to have refurbished.

"We usually point out with their finger what they need to clean (smooth)," said Judy Hollinsworth, a volunteer whose legally blind daughter is active at the center.

The ceramic pieces -- vases, decorative cowboy boots, siesta tortilla warmers to name a few -- are made from molds. Already formed chess and nativity scene pieces dry next to knick-knacks, dishes and wall hangings.

"For Easter they made all sorts of rabbits and eggs," Law said. "It's the best therapy in the world.

"We have some very active people who thought they couldn't do anything once they lost their sight," Law said. "But a lot of them know from before they lost their sight what colors and shapes are."

Those who are blind since birth are told about colors, said Marjie Buchanan, the ceramics teacher since 1983. "We tell them that red is hot like the sun. Blue is soft and relaxing."

The center uses volunteers to assist the students. Funds allow a van and a minibus to transport students within a five-mile radius to the center. The jars of glaze are donated by a local company.

The center could serve a lot more, but many people have no way to get there, Law said.

Ruth Levy who is fortunate to live within five miles, has been coming to the center for more than 10 years. She is picked up by 8 a.m., brings her lunch and is brought home in the early afternoon.

Others ride paratransit or CAT buses, but many are seniors who aren't comfortable not being able to see who they are sitting next to on a bus, Law said.

For some, ceramics is worth an uncomfortable bus ride.

Janna Harris, 78 and totally blind, has been taking the bus to class for two years.

"I can do anything," Harris said. "I can smell, I can feel, I can hear and I got a lot of things working for me -- my fingers."

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