Special Olympics Nevada showcases Las Vegas woman’s artistic abilities

Friday, March 30, 2001 | 9 a.m.

Twenty-five years ago Alisa Goldstein, who her mother described as a sharp, good-humored child, was struck by a car in front of her Las Vegas home and thrown 120 feet.

The 5-year-old girl spent the next 25 days in a coma, from which she awoke with permanent brain damage and paralysis on the right side of body.

Today Alisa, 30, has overcome her paralysis with little complication, but still is brain damaged, suffers from short-term memory loss, depression and learning disabilities.

Although her ability to communicate with others fluctuates, she has one avenue that never fails her: creative expression.

Through bright colors, circular patterns, geometric shapes and designs, Goldstein communicates her thoughts and emotions abstractly with markers, pencils, rulers and construction paper.

"I try to draw every day," said Goldstein, wearing a white sweater covered with patterns reflective of her artwork that hangs throughout her family's Las Vegas home.

"I like working with different shapes, whether it's a butterfly shape or whatever comes to my mind. I don't even know what it's going to look like until I try it."

Nearly 20 of her abstract pictures will be on display Sunday at the MGM Grand Conference Center during a gala fund-raiser to support Special Olympics Nevada.

Special Olympics Nevada is trying to bring attention to the contributions people with disabilities have made, Sarah Foltman, spokeswoman for the organization, said.

A lot of people have the perception that the organization merely hosts one day of games, Foltman said. But it also provides year-round sports training and athletic competitions for people with mental retardation.

Participants such as Goldstein, an avid bowler, basketball player and dancer, bring other interests to the table. Goldstein said she's been drawing since she was a child. Her abstract pictures depict images of people in everyday activities, the weather, moods and historic geographic locations.

"If you ask her what she ate for dinner last night, she may not remember," her mother, Dolores Goldstein, said. "But I can look at those pictures and know what is going on in her head."

Alisa Goldstein's struggles continue. Four years ago she developed a rare blood disease and had to receive a bone-marrow transplant. Two years ago she came down with lupus. In November her father died.

Despite what happens, "The primary importance in her life is the creativity," said Therese Morin, a family friend who lives with the Goldsteins. "She thinks in those terms all the time.

"All we ever have to do is try things out," Goldstein said after singing a song she wrote about rehabilitation. "Artwork -- I'll never give up on that."