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Alumna Susan Baldino Curates Exhibition Centered on Access, Inclusion, and Opportunity for All in the Arts

Published April 7, 2019

Susan Baldino with community work "Together and Able" at LeMoyne Arts, 2016Art History alumna and adjunct MCHS faculty Dr. Susan Davis Baldino co-curated an upcoming exhibition at the Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts: “Arts4All Florida: Access, Inclusion, Opportunity.” The exhibition opens in the Walmsley Gallery with a reception on May 16 from 5:30 to 7 pm, and continues through June 14.

This invitational exhibition highlights the work of Arts4All Florida artists, demonstrating that regardless of difference, artists have a creative vision that moves them and those who view their art. The show features a range of Florida artists’ works, including the macro photography of Chris Mendicino, landscape photography of the Wheelchair Highwaymen (represented at FSU by J.R. Harding), paintings from Arts4All awardees and Art Therapy alumna April Fitzpatrick, and sculpture by Tallahassee artist Judy Jecko. Baldino writes,

The works in this exhibition prove that when we include artists of all abilities and give them the opportunity to show their work, we see proof of inspired artistic gifts that we might never have realized. The work displayed here shows the power of art and reinforces our commitment to embrace all.

Baldino is Regional Program Coordinator for Arts4All Florida, the state organization on arts and disability. Her co-curator is Sandra Sroka, Arts4All Florida director of adult programs. For 37 years, Arts4All Florida has helped people of all abilities to contribute to the social, cultural, and economic life of Florida.

Wheelchair Highwaymen, Misty Blue. 2019, photograph on canvas

The Wheelchair Highwaymen derive their name from the iconic African American landscape artists, the Florida Highwaymen. In a collaborative effort, the three quadriplegics use drone, camera, and hands-free technology to capture the beguiling Florida panorama. This image was taken near High Springs, Florida. The Wheelchair Highwaymen are the newest members of the Arts4All Florida Artist Registry.

The three photographers—Max Lee, J.R. Harding, and Gordon Palmer—are advocates for the disability community. Through their artistry, they epitomize their watchwords, “Bringing nature back into the lives of the disabled through technology.”

 

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