Making Art with Inner Vision

I was asked to write a short article for a journal recently. The editor asked me to discuss how my art changed from the time I could see to do it, and how it is done now that I cannot see to do it. I am delighted to answer this question because it means that someone has an interest in what I do and how I do it, as an artist. It also means that someone is not afraid to have an honest discussion with me about a topic that far too many people are afraid to face or discuss - sight loss.

Here is what I wrote and sent off today to the editor of the journal:

"Art and Inner Vision"

One of the most valuable lessons I learned as a mature student of the fine arts at Slippery Rock University of PA, back in the 1980s was that there was a difference between “seeing” and “looking.” My painting professor had talked with me about learning to “see.” He sent me off on a new journey when he gave me a list of artists on day. My assignment was to visit the library and find those artists. He told me to look at pictures of their work. I spent many days in the library. I back the information to him about what I was “seeing.” This assignment opened up a new way of thinking for me, a new understanding of what art is really about.

Seeing takes a long period of time. It is not a glance, or a quick look. It is about the passage of time. It happens in layers. Seeing involves the entire body, not just the eyes. I soon became aware of the inner vision that sees the art work, and time stood still. We are outside of time when we begin to “see” the world around us through all of our senses.

This belief that I embraced enabled me to continue to create after I lost most of my eyesight nearly four years ago. I learned to adapt, to find new ways of expressing an idea. I decided that this change in vision opened new doors for me and new ways of exploring in my art work. I viewed it as a new opportunity to learn new ways of working.

Instead of painting pictures and making wood cut prints, I decided to begin working in clay. It was a very quick transition for me to move from a 2 dimensional flat surface, to a 3 dimensional form. My love of painting has been transformed to working on the surface of the forms I made, using glazes, under glazes and stains to get the rich colors and depth of surface that I always had in my paintings. Now, I think of my vessels as paintings. They are paintings that you can take a walk around, and view from all sides.

Making pottery is a new adventure for me. It is one that I experience because of a life-changing challenge. Most people would think that to lose your eyesight, for an artists, would be the worst imaginable tragedy. This is not true.

Instead of feeling sorry for something I had no control over, I turned my personal challenge into a new adventure. I changed my mind and looked for positive outcomes. Every day, I look for what is positive and I think of ways to adapt things so that I can do them in my own way. It is all about finding your inner vision. It is all there inside of you, waiting for you to discover it. My art work reflects my way of Walking by Inner Vision.

River Road Studio, Wurtemburg, PA since 1976

Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

What is Ischemic Optic Neuropathy?

How is it diagnosed"

What is the treatment?

Ischemic Optic Neuropathy is often associated with hypertension. This would be in 40% of the cases.

Other causes could be diabetes, at 20%

That leaves 40% due to other causes, which are really unknown. That is where I fall in, unknown cause of my disability.

Typically, this condition is seen in older persons, in the 70s or above.

For me, it happened when I was 64 years old. I was told I am very young to have this condition.

What happens when Ischemic Optic Neuropathy stirkes?

It is SUDDEN. One night you go to bed with normal vision, and in the morning you cannot see very well. My vision was blurred upon waking up one morning. I thought I just needed a good night's rest. But, my vision never cleared up, and remained blurred. A visit to my eye doctor revealed I had a "big problem." And, I was sent immediately to a specialist, and had emergency blood work done that day at the hospital.

It is characterized by acute, sudden vision loss, usually in one eye, and presents often with optic disc edema, blurred disc margins and flame-shaped retinal hemorrhages. An altitudinal visual field defect is also usually noted. If it is of the arteritic variety, then swollen, tender, temporal artery is involved along with pain on the side of the face between the outer eyes and ears. Lab tests and biopsy confirms the diagnosis. Treatment includes systemic steroid administration usually methylprednisone 1 gram IV each day for 3 days, then tapering the dosage until resolution. I was put on this medication immediately, and then had surgery for a temporal biopsy. I did not have the arteritic type of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. I was thankful for that.

In my case it happened on January 1,2007 in my right eye. Then, ten months later, it happened in my left eye. More blood work, more steroids, and another surgery for biopsy followed the second episode. It is now 3 years since my journey into sight loss began.