Happy Holidays from Latitude Artist Community!
2006 has been a great year for all of us here at Latitude and we want to thank all of you
for your support. Lexington is a wonderful community and we are happy to be a part of it.
We are proud to share some of Latitude's 2006 highlights with you.
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Some January 2006 Highlights: Latitude's oral history project: Can you tell me about
yesterday and tommorow and still call it poetry? is the name we chose for our oral
history project. Begun in 2000 our project is devoted to including the oral histories of
people considered by some to have intellectual disabilites in state oral history archives.
This year we began a pilot program with Ann Shordike of Eastern Kentucky University. Ten
oral histories were recorded and transcribed. Latitude artists Meg Pike, Rhonda Friedman
and Heady Spalding were among those contributing their stories. A painting by Latitude
artist Beverly Baker graced the front cover of Nougat magazine and an article about
Lexington area art programs was featured. Latitude artists also participated in the
Fortune Cookie Project a community arts project conceived by Latitude Board member Kurt
Gohde. My personal favorite was written by Latitude artist Arthur Wagoner "You will have
a new book in your future... and sand". Read a bit about the project here:
http://www.transy.edu/kgohde/.
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Some February 2006 Highlights: Latitude artist Lewis Walker was the featured artist in
an exhibit at Creative Diversity Studio in Louisville. As always Latitude had a float
in our Annual Mardi Gras Jazz Parade- and guess what?.. we won the Best in Parade trophy!
Look for our entry in this year's parade- better yet drop by and help decorate our float!
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Some March 2006 Highlights:. Latitude sponsored a Haiku- like writing contest. Over 50
writers responded and winners were selected by Latitude artists. Winners of the contest
received a cash award and their winning Haiku- like entries were dispalyed on the giant
outdoor LED Screen at Rupp Arena for all Lexington commuters in enjoy.
Here is our favorite:
Clay Wainscott
trick is to see
first to look
then to know
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Some April 2006 Highlights: Latitude artist Beverly Baker participated as an artist in
residence at the Explorium.Bluegrass PRIDE is an environmental organization and each
year local artists decorate a number of rainbarrels which are then auctioned off to
raise money for the organization-this year as always Latitude artists decorated a
rain barrel which was auctioned off on E-Bay.
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Some May 2006 Highlights: In May we began a satellite gallery program at Third Street
Stuff Coffee. New artwork by Latitude artists is exhibited every six weeks. Latitude
artist Kenny Walker exhibited his drawings first to kick off the program. The Project
Easy Access Lexington "BrickSquad" was begun by Latitude artist Belinda Sellers after
her wheelchair fell into one of the many holes left from missing paving bricks
downtown. The "Bricksquad" acquired paving bricks, sand, and a trowel which are kept in
a colorful canvas bag and periodically members walk downtown and fix the pavement
ourselves.
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Some June 2006 Highlights: Latitude artists Belinda Sellers and Bruce Burris spoke
about downtown Lexington accessiblity issues and the creation of Project Easy Access
Lexington (PEAL) at UK's annual Sanders Brown Summer Series on Aging. Bruce began the
Eastern State Hospital Cemetery Club after discovering what many others have since
referred to as a "mass grave" on the grounds of the Eastern State Hospital. For more
about the ESH Cemetery Club got to:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/esh/
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Some July 2006 Highlights: Latitude artists took part in LFUCG's Bluegrass Bike/Walk
Survey. This important survey is helping to address the needs of those with disabilites
in planning roads and sidewalks in the future. Latitude artists Norma Barnes and Mary
Fields exhibited art work at Third Street Stuff Coffee. Everyone at Latitude and
Building Bridges contributed to creating floats with an accessibility theme for
Lexington's 4th of July parade. This was a great success and in addition to the
wonderful floats our group include dancers, byclists and drummers- we were colorful and
amazing!
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Some August 2006 Highlights: Project Easy Access BrickSquad founder Belinda Sellers was
interviewed during WLEX's 12pm news about her project to fix downtown sidewalks. Latitude
artist Tony Dunn exhibited his work at Third Street Stuff Coffee. Latitude artist Melissa
Amaral exhibited her work at Firebird Studios Gallery.
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Some September 2006 Highlights: September was the single most important month in
Latitude's six years of existence. Project Easy Access Lexington held it's second rally to
highlight accessiblity issues. The rally was a tremendous success which has led to
Lexington (LFUCG) establishing a Commission on Disabilities, finally making our own city
hall accessible and beginning the process to re- pave downtown Lexington sidewalks. WOW!!!
Read a commentary about accessibility by Bruce Burris published by the Lexington
Herald-Leader:
http://www.hereweare.net/BURRIS/DownTownAccessable.pdf
Read an article about accessibility by Bruce Burris in Business Lexington:
http://www.bizlex.com/story.php?id=199
Check out our cool poster for the Accessibility Awareness Day rally:
http://www.cricket-press.com/access.html
Latitude artist Belinda Sellers was recognized as a "Lexington Stories/ Unsung Hero" for
her work with Project Easy Access Lexington. See a slide show about the award winners here:
http://www.realcities.com/multimedia/kentucky/heroes/index.html
Ace Weekly and Building Bridges were co- sponsors of the rally- THANKS!
And on top of everything else famed environmetalist Julia Butterfly Hill visited
Latitude and talked about her adventures as a defender of our environment.
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Some October 2006 Highlights: Latitude artists contributed to a community gardening project
at the Lexington Senior Center and next year Latitude gardeners will be repsonsible for
one of nine gardens at this location. An installation by Latitude artists was one of nine
Day of the Dead displays located in various public buildings around Lexington. Latitude's
display was located in the Lexington History Center.
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Some November 2006 Highlights: Latitude artist Ted Tiemeyer had a Letter to the Editor
published by the Lexington Herald- Leader. In it Ted discusses the importance of having
a supermarket in downtown Lexington. Latitude artist Dana Lynn Benge exhibited her artwork
at Third Street Stuff Coffee.
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Some December 2006 Highlights: Look for an article in the Lexington Herald- Leader on January
10th 2007 featuring Teresa Thompson and her achievments as a yoga instructor for people with
disabilities and aging populations. Ace Weekly named Bruce "This Years Model" go to:
www.aceweekly.com
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Wishing everyone a Joyfull Holiday Season from Latitude Owners Crystal Bader and Bruce Burris,
Staff Artists Teresa Thompson, Kathryn McCullough, all our volunteers and interns and all of
the Latitude artists!
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For more information:
Crystal Bader, Bruce Burris
Latitude (859) 806-0195