Welcome to Latitude Artist Community’s late Summer 2006 Email Update! Latitude Artist Community serves all people -- with an emphasis on those thought by some to have a disability -- by creating meaningful, inclusive community interactions which allow participating artists to contribute culturally and politically to the life of their city. -------------------- This past summer Latitude’s Project Easy Access Lexington Wheel Chair Uncle Sam was a hit in Lexington’s Fourth of July Parade. We were joined by Building Bridge’s, Wheel Chair Statue Of Liberty and many other bike riders and festive walkers who drew attention to our city’s need to improve access for all people in downtown Lexington. In late July over 20 of Latitude’s colorful handmade posters contributed to a colorful rally in support of the ADA in Frankfort, and in early August Belinda Sellers and Bruce Burris appeared on WLEX to talk about our BrickSquad (more on the BrickSquad below). ------------------- Latitude has some exciting events coming up – so here we go! ------------------- Latitude Artist Beverly Baker is exhibiting new drawings at Third Street Stuff Coffee through September 30. Also on display is a selection of posters created over the years by Latitude artists, to support various cultural, environmental and political causes. Third Street Coffee is located at 257 N. Limestone St. ------------------- Latitude Artist Melissa Amaral will be exhibiting her work in a Group Exhibition at Firebird Studio and Gallery 359 W. Short St. from September 15- October 15. ------------------- Join Latitude Artist Belinda Sellers as she receives the “Unsung Hero Award”! September 15, 5:00- 8:00 at ArtsPlace, 161 N. Mill St. The Unsung Hero award was created through a partnership between the Humanitarium and the City of Lexington to recognize amazing individuals for the important work that they have done for their communities. Belinda was nominated by Latitude for the work she has done with Project Easy Access Lexington (see below). From over 100 nominations 12 recipients were chosen for the award. Pictures and quotes from the recipients will make up a touring exhibit and in addition to receiving an award from the Mayor of Lexington and the Humanitarium, Belinda’s photo and quote will be enlarged to adorn the side of a city bus! ------------------- Join famed environmentalist Julia Butterfly Hill at Latitude!!! Wednesday September 20, 1 pm- 2pm (Garage Door Lecture Series- FREE) Join world famous Environmentalist/Treesitter Julia Butterfly Hill for a Project Easy Access (In) Accessibility Hot Spots Tour of downtown Lexington, followed by a talk by Julia about her life's work as a defender of the environment. This is a remarkable opportunity to meet and hear from a true American hero. For more information about Julia Butterfly Hill go to: www.circleoflifefoundation.org -------------------- Oral History project update: Many of you may remember the oral history project we are working on with Professor Ann Shoredike of EKU. We are very excited this about this because these interviews will give people a sense of what life is like for just regular folks who happen be considered to have a developmental disability. We have found that our approach is unique and that there is little in the way of the recorded life histories of this kind anywhere in the U.S.- though the need seems very obvious. Soon we will be sharing the first transcripts, in the meantime the project needs a spiffy title--- any suggestions? -------------------- Many thanks to Good Foods Market and Café who donated a percentage of sales from their food booth at the Woodland Arts and Crafts Fair to Latitude. -------------------- Eastern State Hospital Cemetery Club Update: Many of us at Latitude are assisting with efforts to create a dignified cemetery at Eastern State Hospital. Read about our efforts in the Lexington Herald- Leader: http://www.bruceburris.com/Burris/Cemetery-Club-1.pdf --------------------- Celebrate Lexington's First Accessibility Awareness Day Thursday, September 28!!! Join Project Easy Access Lexington for our annual community accessibility rally at Triangle Park (Corner of South Broadway and W. Main Street). The City of Lexington has proclaimed the day of our rally as Lexington Accessibility Awareness Day! 10:00am - 11:00am Gather, Rally, (In) Accessibility Hot Spot Tours (covers 2 blocks) leave every 15 minutes 11:00am - 11:30 Speakers! Including Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac, Belinda Sellers (Project Easy Access Lexington), Jay Whitehead (CAO LFUCG), Kathy Shepherd Jones (HDI at UK), Dave Cooper (Sierra Club), Robynn Pease (LFUCG Aging Services Director), Jim Embry (Sustainable Communities Network) 11:30am - 12:00pm Performance, (In) Accessibility Hot Spots Tours, Rally Poster Contest Winners and more! Sponsors of our community accessibility rally include: Latitude Artist Community, The Howe Charities, Inc., Ace Weekly, Building Bridges, Human Development Institute at UK, Third Street Stuff Coffee, Sue Gill, Action Arts Collective, Mecca Live Dance Studio ---------------------- More on Project Easy Access Lexington: This year we introduced the BrickSquad and armed with a trowel, sand and paving bricks, we repaved many of the gaping holes in our downtown sidewalks ourselves. With Project Red Light Runner we discovered just how dangerous it is to cross streets downtown! We don’t want to give all the details of our survey away yet, but we observed the intersection of N. Broadway and Short St. for 100 red light cycles. We think the results of our survey will shock you. For example on August 8, at 1:30 we observed 12 light changes and a total of 21 cars ran the red lights. Thanks to all the Latitude artists who participated in helping with Project Red Light Runner and Bricksquad! -------------------- For more information: Bruce Burris, Crystal Bader Latitude Artist Community (859) 806-0195