Transcending Barriers To Creativity: Columbia, Muscular Dystrophy Association Join Forces To Honor Artists With Als

***MEDIA ALERT***

TRANSCENDING BARRIERS

TO CREATIVITY

Columbia, Muscular

Dystrophy Association join forces to honor artists with ALS

WHAT: A reception

kicking off “Transcending Barriers to Creativity,” a unique touring art

exhibit that will feature works by artists with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

(ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The exhibition will run from

May 2-10 at the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Center at Columbia-Presbyterian

Medical Center. (The exhibit will be displayed at MDA/ALS centers throughout

the northeastern United States as part of a month-long tour commemorating

ALS Awareness Month.) The reception will feature live music, light refreshments,

and a mouth-painting demonstration by an artist living with ALS.

WHY: In honoring

the achievements of artists with neuromuscular diseases, Columbia and the

MDA are not just celebrating the perseverance and spirit of these courageous

individuals, but are calling attention to the fact that these kinds of

physical disabilities do not have to be an impediment to creativity—and

can be transcended.

WHO:

*Dr. Lewis P. Rowland, founder, Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Center,

Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center

*William Ross, featured artist

*Representatives from the Muscular Dystrophy Association

WHEN:

Thursday, May 2, 2002, 5-7 p.m.

WHERE: Russ

Berrie Medical Science Pavilion

1150 St. Nicholas Avenue (between 167th and 168th Streets), NYC

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