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Second Sense - Beyond Vision Loss

Passionate Focus 2022

To see all of each artist’s work and to read their bio, simply click on their name.

Most of the work shown here is available for sale during our Passionate Focus 2022 event. Visit our event website and go to Browse Items and Art Exhibit to see the prices.

Alison Fortney

Alison Fortney

"I enjoy working with photography because it allows me to see things differently. With the aid of my camera, I am able to create beautiful, visually captivating images. I especially love exploring nature and capturing its wonder."

  1. Marshy Landscape
  2. The Mountain
Amber Miller

Amber Miller

"With the unfailing encouragement of family and friends, I am happily allowing dreams, imaginings and stories to spill from the brush. My reduced physical vision has become a gateway to a richer, inner sight.”

  1. A Very Serious Matter
Annie Hesse

Annie Hesse

As a photographer, who is visually impaired, Annie has become more aware of her objectives and intentions over time and with experience. She now uses color and close-ups to present her perspective of the world. Color, shape, texture and contrast are the key elements in her photographs, not to mention the physical distance between the camera and the subject.

  1. Spectral
  2. Vortex
Barbara Oswald

Barbara Oswald

“'Her Blindness' is my story. I was the 'low vision guide' for my sighted friend and poet, Jane Walster. The audio file included is a digital recording of the poem so that non sighted patrons can hear the spoken wordsof her poem. Access to Art for All is my goal."

  1. Her Blindness (SOLD)
  2. Tree of Life
Barbara Romain

Barbara Romain

“I am now less inspired by what I see and more by what I hear, remember and imagine.”

  1. Field
  2. Prayer (SOLD)
Beth Meador

Beth Meador

"ith a very narrow visual field of 2 degrees, my process takes a lot of different methods of measurement to achieve my desired outcome. I try to tell a story with my paintings, whether it be a person, place or thing, each one carries a story from my heart."

  1. Let's Make A Splash (Not for Sale)
  2. Ocean Escape (Not for Sale)
Camille Jassny

Camille Jassny

"Sharing my art allows me to show how I visualize the world, how even blindness can be full of color and beauty; each piece a window into how I see without sight."

  1. Toc Tac Toe (SOLD)
Charles Blackwell

Charles Blackwell

“I create pieces in order to provoke inspiration and thus giving life to the human spirit.”

  1. Notes Which Create the Whole Opportunity Even in 33/16ths (SOLD)
  2. Be Boom Tish Be Bap-Be Boom Tish (SOLD)
Constance Avery

Constance Avery

"The thrill of discovering colors, lights, and atmospheric presence (shadows and light) inspires me to push the boundaries of acrylic painting to another level. Painting, for me, is about the exploration of lines, colors, and composition to discover/see what can be created visually."

  1. A Season of Change (SOLD)
Frank Valliere

Frank Valliere

"The bulk of my private study deals with a lifelong interest in the rural landscape.  I am taken in by the different atmospheres, the random patterns and colors."

  1. Cape Elizabeth (SOLD)
Hamilton Byrd

Hamilton Byrd

"I have been painting and drawing since I was 8 years old. I hope you enjoy what I have to offer this year."

  1. Joe at Work (SOLD)
  2. Pirl at Party (SOLD)
Julie Bruno

Julie Bruno

"In 2021, I was stretched to paint new things. I discovered that I can be true to who I am and still experiment." Patron Sponsor

  1. Handsome Devil? (SOLD)
  2. On the Way to the Farm (SOLD)
  3. Smattering Farm
Linn Sorge

Linn Sorge

"At first I only worked with textures, keeping the color schemes simple. But my current teacher, Heather Winslow, has helped me to understand color theory and has encouraged me to work with a variety of colors. I tend to think of them as music--one color might be like a cheerful little melody in a major key, another might sound bold and strong. Add them together and you have a new piece of hand-woven artwork."

  1. Before and After Rainbow Dish Towel (Not for Sale)
  2. Window Pane Turned Twill Towel (Not for Sale)
Nora Devane

Nora Devane

"Being a visually impaired photographer I also find solace while capturing the beauty that surrounds us. When I am out in the field, I let the world slide away and my camera takes me to a place where I feel whole and invigorated."

  1. Electrified
  2. Kaleidoscope
  3. Sunny Side Up
Passle Helminski

Passle Helminski

Passle exhibited in countless exhibitions all over the country and in many international exhibitions, from Germany to Singapore, Sweden, Australia and China.

  1. Growing Gold Teapot (SOLD)
  2. Wild Teapot (SOLD)
  3. Tea Time
Rose Kamma Morrison

Rose Kamma Morrison

"As my vision diminishes, many forms of art have changed - that change has been a positive influence for me. It gave me the opportunity to try new genres and techniques. Art is about exploring new avenues of texture, colour and emotion which give my mind’s eye access to a broad horizon of ideas. This is what I love about art - it is liberating to create adaptation, a challenge I love to experiment in. Tactile art is now under the umbrella of the many techniques I possess as a creator."

  1. Bailarinas Rojas
  2. Photopsia
  3. Spring into Change
Rosemarie Fortney

Rosemarie Fortney

"My means of artistic expression cannot help but be influenced by the progression of vision loss from Retinitis Pigmentosa. Limited tunnel-vision which some may view as a “limiting factor” of RP, I find artistically “frames” and presents to me dynamic statements.

  1. Prickles (SOLD)
  2. Tulpe (SOLD)
Russell Schermer

Russell Schermer

"I have always had a fascination with cars and have enjoyed forming things from clay. I have combined my interests in these two things to create my work."

  1. 1949 Buick
  2. 1955 Mercedes
  3. 1990 Harley Davidson
Sam Smith

Sam Smith

Much of Sam’s work is inspired by the humor that can be found in ordinary language and symbols. Sam is also a musician.  Drawing and music feed off each other, so that an image may provide the title for a song or help illustrate the lyrics, and vice versa.

  1. Canned Laughter (SOLD)
  2. The Long and Short of It (SOLD)
  3. Somebody (SOLD)
Stella De Genova

Stella De Genova

"Working on a painting has become more and more intimidating because I still want to hold my work up to the standards of the visual world. I realize that the colors or details may not be exact, and I can only hope that it can add to the personality of the painting. Out of necessity, this makes my style more impressionistic."

  1. Calabria, Italy (SOLD)
  2. Fishing Near Montrose Harbor (SOLD)
  3. Rocky Shoreline
Susan Joy Gustafson

Susan Joy Gustafson

"Designing fused glass angels, and painting with acrylics have allowed my works to be uniquely me; strangely bold, and fuel my passion for wholehearted living."

  1. Balloon Flowers (SOLD)
  2. Zinnia Bouquet
  3. Zinnias Zing