Since the Council’s first Gallery Night event in 2011, we take the opportunity to exhibit art created by artists who are blind or visually impaired. In 2020, fourteen artists ranging in age and medium used are participating. Artists’ work and artist statements are below.
Thank you for supporting our artists and the work of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired.
Virtual Exhibit
Full Sun
Artist: Julie Chumas, Eau Claire
Description of artwork: A group of three paintings with a mix of yellows, greens, oranges and purples in a modern style.
Mixed media; each panel is 20 inches by 16.25 inches
Audio description
Description of Julie Chumas’s “Full Sun”
Patient Endurance
Artist: Julie Chumas, Eau Claire
Description of artwork: One large piece that fades from maroon streaks of paint on the top, to grey, white and grey again.
Acrylic on canvas; 24 inches by 36.75 inches
Audio description
Description of Julie Chumas’s “Patient Endurance”
Celestial Phoenix
Artist: Deb Clair, Madison
Description of artwork: A majestic swirl of golds in the broad shape of a phoenix bird, with purple and white in the background.
Acrylic; 21.5 inches by 17.5 inches
Audio description
Description of Deb Clair’s “Celestial Phoenix”
Revelation Sky
Artist: Deb Clair, Madison
Description of artwork: A sunrise over mountains; the mountains are dark green, sun golden and sky a three-stripe of light green, teal and dark green.
Acrylic; 32 inches by 23 inches
Audio description
Description of Deb Clair’s “Revelation Sky”
Morning Dew in Spring
Artist: Ellen Connor, Oregon
Description of artwork: Close-up of a bright orange-red tulip with purple bell flowers, both covered in giant dew drops.
Photography; 8 by 10 inches, mounted on 11 by 14 inches
Audio description
Description of Ellen Connor’s “Morning Dew in Spring”
Inner Workings
Artist: Ellen Connor, Oregon
Description of artwork: Close-up of the inside of a tulip.
Photography; 8 by 10 inches, mounted on 11 by 14 inches
Audio description
Description of Ellen Connor’s “Inner Workings”
You've Got Mail
Artist: Ellen Connor, Oregon
Description of artwork: Three bright purple flowers.
Photography; 8 by 10 inches, mounted on 11 by 14 inches
Audio description
Description of Ellen Connor’s “Youve Got Mail”
Coleus
Artist: Ellen Connor, Oregon
Description of artwork: Several plants with lime green leaf edges and marroon leaf interiors.
Photography; 8 by 10 inches, mounted on 11 by 14 inches
Audio description
Description of Ellen Connor’s “Coleus”
Morning Crow
Artist: Caden Drier, Fall Creek
Description of artwork: A rooster made of crushed glass stands on a bright green glass grass; four white boards make up the background of this piece.
Smashed glass
Audio description
Description of Caden Drier’s “Morning Crow”
Dripping Ferns
Artist: Rosemarie Fortney, Milwaukee
Description of artwork: Abstract black and white lines dripping down the page.
Digital media on Dibond; 23 inches wide by 30 inches tall
Audio description
Description of Rosemary Fortney’s “Dripping Ferns”
Our World on the Brink
Artist: Rosemarie Fortney, Milwaukee
Description of artwork: Two trees with golden leaves in an abstract nature scene with pink and red flowers and swirls of green and white color.
Alcohol ink on Dibond; 30 inches wide by 23 inches tall
Audio description
Description of Rosemary Fortney’s “Our World on the Brink”
Vortex
Artist: Rosemarie Fortney, Milwaukee
Description of artwork: A bright yellow and orange abstract design.
Alcohol ink on Dibond; 18 inches wide by 30 inches tall
Audio description
Description of Rosemary Fortney’s “Vortex”
Palm Trees
Artist: Alison Fortney, Milwaukee
Description of artwork: Looking up at a group of palm trees with blue sky in the background.
Photograph printed on metal; 14 inches wide by 11 inches high
Audio description
Description of Alison Fortney’s “Palm Trees”
Orange and Black Butterfly
Artist: Alison Fortney, Milwaukee
Description of artwork: A butterfly sits on a white flower with a blurred green background.
Photograph printed on matte metal; 20 inches wide by 16 inches high
Audio description
Description of Alison Fortney’s “Orange and Black Butterfly”
Trees & Pergola
Artist: Alison Fortney, Milwaukee
Description of artwork: A tree drips with Spanish moss over a wooden pergola and trail to a bench.
Photograph printed on metal; 16 inches wide by 20 inches high
Audio description
Description of Alison Fortney’s “Trees & Pergola”
Symmetrical Succulent
Artist: Alison Fortney, Milwaukee
Description of artwork: Close-up of a multi-leaved green succulent.
Photograph printed on matte metal; 14 inches wide by 11 inches high
Audio description
Description of Alison Fortney’s “Symmetrical Succulent”
Water
Artist: Duncan Hamilton, Verona
Description of artwork: A blue and green checkered pattern in the center with a red to light yellow ombre around it.
Oil pastel on paper; 8.3 inches by 11.7 inches
Audio description
Description of Duncan Hamilton’s “Water”
Electricity
Artist: Duncan Hamilton, Verona
Description of artwork: Dark blue and green color strips halved by a white swoosh.
Oil pastel on paper; 8.3 inches by 11.7 inches
Audio description
Description of Duncan Hamilton’s “Electricity”
Evening
Artist: Duncan Hamilton, Verona
Description of artwork: A blurry checkered pattern with blues, whites and purples.
Oil pastel on paper; 9 inches by 12 inches
Audio description
Description of Duncan Hamilton’s “Evening”
Mix
Artist: Duncan Hamilton, Verona
Description of artwork: A blurry checkered pattern with oranges, peach, yellow, greens and blues.
Oil pastel on paper; 12 inches by 9 inches
Audio description
Description of Duncan Hamilton’s “Mix”
Cut Flowers
Artist: Donna Miller, Madison
Description of artwork: Several vases hold bright-colored floral arrangements on a step.
Oil; 14 inches by 18 inches
Audio description
Description of Donna Miller’s “Cut Flowers”
Chelsea Roses
Artist: Donna Miller, Madison
Description of artwork: Five light-pink roses with their green leaves.
Oil; 14 inches by 18 inches
Audio description
Description of Donna Miller’s “Chelsea Roses”
Lake Michigan Shore Butterfly
Artist: Donna Miller, Madison
Description of artwork: Light blue and yellow butterfly perched between two large rocks.
Oil; 11 inches by 14 inches
Audio description
Description of Donna Miller’s “Lake Michigan Shore Butterfly”
The Ridges
Artist: Donna Miller, Madison
Description of artwork: Leaves fall into a pond with a cedar tree and woods in background.
Oil; 11 inches by 14 inches
Audio description
Description of Donna Miller’s “The Ridges”
Shifted Portrait
Artist: Isabel Kinerk, Lake Geneva
Description of artwork: A cartoon of a girl with three-eyed glasses, brown hair and a black shirt.
Digital illustration; 11-inch x 14-inch print of digital image
Audio description
Description of Isabel Kinerk’s “Shifted Portrait”
Sorceress Concept Painting
Artist: Isabel Kinerk, Lake Geneva
Description of artwork: An animated woman with a black dress with flowing ruby-lined sleeves, blue skin and black hair.
Digital illustration; 11-inch x 14-inch print of digital imag-
Audio description
Description of Isabel Kinerk’s “Sorceress Concept Painting”
Scientist Concept Painting
Artist: Isabel Kinerk, Lake Geneva
Description of artwork: A smiling woman in a white lab coat, black belt and buttons holding a wrench in one hand and goggles onto her head with the other hand.
Digital illustration; 11-inch x 1-inch print of digital image
Audio description
Description of Isabel Kinerk’s “Scientist Concept Painting”
Blind Superhero Turnaround
Artist: Isabel Kinerk, Lake Geneva
Description of artwork: One person holding a white cane over their shoulder is shown three times from the front, half-side and side. The person is wearing white, black and red and the full background is grey.
Digital illustration; 11-inch x 14-inch print of digital image
Audio description
Description of Isabel Kinerk’s “Blind Superhero Turnaround”
Sometimes You Got to Kiss a Few Before You Find Your Prince
Artist: Jeannie Nylander, La Crosse
Description of artwork: A group of two sitting frogs in green with their mouths open.
Ceramic
Audio description
Description of Jeannie Nylander’s “Sometimes You Got to Kiss a Few Before You Find Your Prince”
Turtle
Artist: Jeannie Nylander, La Crosse
Description of artwork: A turtle wearing a pink hat with a light green shell with dark green accents.
Ceramic
Audio description
Description of Jeannie Nylander’s “Turtle”
Goofy Pose
Artist: Eli Santin, Madison
Description of artwork: Hand-drawn cartoon cat with giant bloodshot eyes.
Sketch
Audio description
Description of Eli Santin’s “Goofy Pose”
Neutral Pose
Artist: Eli Santin, Madison
Description of artwork: Hand-drawn cat with whiskers stands with his belly paunched out.
Sketch
Audio description
Description of Eli Santin’s “Neutral Pose”
Stock Angry Expression
Artist: Eli Santin, Madison
Description of artwork: Hand-drawn cat stands with hands on hips and bloodshot eyes.
Sketch
Audio description
Description of Eli Santin’s “Stock Angry Expression”
Fan Picture Pose
Artist: Eli Santin, Madison
Description of artwork: A hand-drawn cat with bloodshot eyes holds its hand out while squeezing a young boy with a Comicon shirt with the other arm
Sketch
Audio description
Description of Eli Santin’s “Fan Picture Pose”
Animated Short Video
Artist: Eli Santin, Madison
Four Jack Pines
Artist: Jill Smith, Appleton
Description of artwork: Four trees sketched in black charcoal on white paper.
Charcoal on paper print; 11 inches by 17 inches
Audio description
Description of Jill Smith “Four Jack Pines”
Grand Marais
Artist: Jill Smith, Appleton
Description of artwork: One large pine and a smaller pine sketched in black charcoal on white paper.
Charcoal on paper print; 11 inches by 14 inches
Audio description
Description of Jill Smith “Grand Marais”
North Lake White Pine
Artist: Jill Smith, Appleton
Description of artwork: A group of trees, including one tall white pine, sketched in charcoal on white paper.
Charcoal on paper print; 11 inches by 14 inches
Audio description
Description of Jill Smith “North Lake White Pine”
Pastel Colors
Artist: Nikki Wolf, Janesville
Description of artwork: Close-up of a coral flower with green stem and leaf.
Photography; 8-inch by 10-inch photo in an 11-inch by 14-inch frame
Audio description
Description of Nikki Wolf’s “Pastel Colors”
Butterfly on Purple Flower
Artist: Nikki Wolf, Janesville
Description of artwork: A moth climbs the side of a purple flower stalk.
Photography; 8-inch by 10-inch photo in an 11-inch by 14-inch frame
Audio description
Description of Nikki Wolf’s “Butterfly on Purple Flower”
TREES ARE ON FIRE
Artist: Ken Lonnquist, Madison
Description of artwork: Song written and performed by Ken.
weave
Artist: Ken Lonnquist, Madison
Description of artwork: Song written and performed by Ken.
Artist Statements
Julie Chumas, Eau Claire
“I have been an artist since I was a little girl. I am inspired by my challenges and use art as a way to work through difficult emotions. In the past, I painted what I saw. Since I have lost my vision and learned a new way to paint, what shows up on the canvas is in my heart and what I feel.”
Listen to Julie’s artist statement
Listen to Julie Chumas’s artist statement
Deb Clair, Madison
“My loss of vision has merely changed the form of my art, making it more authentic. When I had better eyesight, I often confined myself to copying others. Now I draw from inner vision and inspiration from my ideas, which is freeing and much more satisfying.”
Listen to Deb’s artist statement:
Listen to Deb Clair’s artist statement
Ellen Connor, Oregon
“Creating art allows me to touch others with my work. My favorite things to photograph are flowers and butterflies. When I put a photo on my computer, I see details that I cannot see when I look at the flower itself. My visual impairment led me to experiment with new aspects of photography for a clearer image.”
Listen to Ellen’s artist statement:
Listen to Ellen Connor’s artist statement
Caden Drier, Fall Creek
“This was my first time creating glass art. I chose it because I wanted to create something different and interesting. Because of my visual impairment, I decided to do this form of art since it is tactile. I wanted to be able to enjoy it by touch. As an eighth grader, creating art is calming and a way to express myself.”
Listen to Caden’s artist statement:
Listen to Caden Drier’s artist statement
Rosemarie Fortney, Milwaukee
“I used art as a big stress relief when my daughter, Alison, was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of five. My visual impairment gives me the freedom to flow because I feel there are no strict boundaries I have to adhere to when creating art. I strive to make my art resonate with the viewer, so sharing happens between myself and those viewing my work.”
Listen to Rosemarie’s artist statement:
Listen to Rosemarie Fortney’s artist statement
Alison Fortney, Milwaukee
“My first experience with photography was in my senior year in high school. While I have a visual impairment, it has not stopped me from doing what I love. I enjoy exploring nature and capturing its wonder. By using my camera, I am able to create beautiful, visually captivating works of art.”
Listen to Alison’s artist statement:
Listen to Alison Fortney’s artist statement
Duncan Hamilton, Verona
“I have been an amateur artist all my life. I enjoy working with oil pastels because it gives me the ability to work on smaller projects I can see with my magnifier. I want anyone with vision loss who sees my art to know they can adapt and create; they do not need to give up.”
Listen to Duncan’s artist statement:
Listen to Duncan Hamilton’s artist statement
Isabel Kinerk, Lake Geneva
“I am studying animation in college. My visual impairment prevents me from seeing the finer details of an image, but it allows me to focus on the essential basic elements used in creating animated characters. Visual arts are an easy way for me to express myself and connect with others.”
Listen to Isabel’s artist statement:
Listen to Isabel Kinerk’s artist statement
Donna Miller, Madison
“Painting has been a hobby of mine for all my life – I’m 90 now. I use a video magnifier and a monocular to continue to paint as my vision changes. I have created about 70 paintings throughout my lifetime and I try to do at least five new pieces each year. I want to encourage the amateur artist. If you have a talent, you should pursue it.”
Listen to Donna’s artist statement:
Listen to Donna Miller’s artist statement
Jeannie Nylander, La Crosse
“I chose to create art using clay because it is very tactile. The longer I have been without sight the more my sense of touch has come alive. Creating art has always been a healing process for me. I would tell others who want to create art that, even though life may hit you hard, do not give up on your dreams.”
Listen to Jeannie’s artist statement:
Listen to Jeannie Nylander’s artist statement
Eli Santin, Madison
“The Simpsons got me into animation because it is so fluid, smooth and energetic. My visual impairment helps me realize the way I see the world is unique and it translates into my art. Creating art is important to me because I have an active mind. The only way I can get ideas and visions out of my mind is to draw.”
Listen to Eli’s artist statement:
Listen to Eli Santin’s artist statement
Jill Smith, Appleton
“The inspiration for my drawings came while kayaking on the river in Menominee, Wisconsin. I created my drawings while out on the water. Each drawing depicts a moment in time when the lighting, weather and current were ideal for drawing. Creating art helps me be outside of myself and in a flow state.”
Listen to Jill’s artist statement:
Listen to Jill Smith’s artist statement
Nikki Wolf, Janesville
“I like to think I see things differently, seeing the beauty all around me. I have been visually impaired my whole life because of being born premature (ROP). I only have vision in my left eye. I have enjoyed photography since high school, and recently started taking pictures again. In the click of a shutter, you can freeze a moment of time forever.”
Listen to Nikki’s artist statement:
Listen to Nikki Wolf’s artist statement
Ken Lonnquist, Madison
“I started writing songs as a kid. Fast forward to today – I am a singer/songwriter whose music spans multiple genres. My visual impairment is changing my approach to my art since I can no longer see the expressions audience members while I’m performing. The music I make is all about communication and connection with other people.”
Listen to Ken’s artist statement:
