WCBVI Gallery Night

media release: On Friday, November 1, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired will host its 2024 Gallery Night, a celebration of art created by individuals who are blind or low vision. This year, the Council is featuring the work of nine artists from across Wisconsin working in a range of media, including oil painting, ceramics, photography, fiber arts and digital drawing.

Friday, November 1, 5:00-8:00 p.m., 754 Williamson St., Madison

Note that due to scheduling conflicts, Gallery Night at the Council is a stand-alone event that does not coincide as it has in previous years with the citywide Gallery Night organized by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art that took place in early October.

This year’s featured artists are:

Evelyn Becker, Sun Prairie

Richard Berkholtz, Madison

Illana Dehoyos, Madison

Rosemary Fortney, Milwaukee

Duncan Hamilton, Verona

Janae O'Connell, Waterloo

Lynn Olson, Madison

Albert Schmiege, Slinger

Nicole Wolf, Janesville

Many of the pieces on display will be available for purchase both at the event and through our online virtual gallery, which will be live at wcblind.org/events/gallery-night/ the week of the event and beyond.

“We view Gallery Night as an important part of our mission to educate the public about the contributions people who are blind or low vision make to society every day,” said Denise Jess, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired. “We bring immense skills and talents to the arts, just as we do in so many other kinds of endeavors. Our aim is to help community members gain a better understanding of what we’re capable of.”

This year, Arts for All, a statewide arts agency that serves people with disabilities, has contributed to the effort by supplying pieces created by some of the artists whose work they present regularly.

A video featuring comments from the artists will run continually during the event. In addition, the Council’s access technology and vision rehabilitation classrooms will be open for demonstrations of some of the adaptive techniques artists with vision loss may use in their work and in their lives. The Sharper Vision Store will also be open for browsing and purchases. Light snacks and refreshments will be available.

The Council is grateful to Associated Bank, SVA, Numbers4Nonprofits, Kwik Trip and Community Shares of Wisconsin for sponsoring this year’s Gallery Night.

About the Council

Founded in 1952, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired promotes the dignity and empowerment of the people of Wisconsin living with vision loss through advocacy, education and vision services.  To learn more about the Council, visit WCblind.org.