Ramp Art gala raises money for wheelchair ramps

Local artist T.L. Pratt hated art exhibits.

“Art shows never held any interest for me,” he said.

His opinion changed, however, when he rediscovered his independence. After a devastating car accident in 1995 left Pratt blind and in a wheelchair, he was unsure if he would ever live on his own again. But with the help of physical therapy and the support of friends and family, Pratt started putting his life back together.

Three years after the accident, Pratt regained more than his independence. He regained his ability to create art.

“I really think that, for someone who has a disability but is also creative, it’s hard to get art out of you,” said Pratt, who studied graphic design at Oklahoma State University. “You have to look for ways to overcome what holds you back.”

Today, Pratt writes poetry and paints still lifes and floral landscapes. Two of his portraits are featured in this year’s Ramp Art exhibit, which runs through June 22 at the Sid Larson Art Gallery at Columbia College.

Now in its 11th year, Ramp Art features the work of local artists with disabilities. The annual gala raises money to pay for the construction of wheelchair ramps. So far, Ramp Art has funded 86 ramps, which cost about $2,000 each, said Tarzie Hart, assistant director of Services for Independent Living, a non-profit organization that funds the exhibit.

This is Pratt’s third Ramp Art exhibit. He earned two honorable mention awards in 1999, his first exhibition. He works mostly with paints, pastels and colored pencils. Although his eyesight is limited, Pratt says he pays particular attention to shading techniques.

“I hope to continue strengthening my hand-eye coordination,” Pratt said, pointing at a colored-pencil drawing of pink, stemless flowers with a bright orange background.

Cindy Eckstein, Pratt’s friend and fellow artist, also has work on display in this year’s Ramp Art. Eckstein, who was born with cerebral palsy, likes to draw portraits of landscapes and animals using various mediums including charcoal, colored pencil and pastel chalk. Her real passion, however, is animation, and she said she hopes to eventually create greeting cards.

Eckstein said a particular challenge for her is maintaining adequate hand control and the pressure needed to draw and to produce her artwork, skills that took some time to learn. Eckstein recalls that, before her first Ramp Art four years ago, she was reluctant to express herself at all.

“I feel more comfortable around artists now,” Eckstein said. “Disabled people can be really creative. Exhibits let people see that.”

Pratt and Eckstein also plan to take part in two creative writing workshops sponsored by Services for Independent Living. Pratt has been writing poetry since high school and has published three poems.

His creativity is also on display in the kitchen. Pratt takes pride in his culinary abilities, which he has developed since he started living on his own again. Pratt credits his artistry to a big imagination and says he is blessed that he has plenty of opportunities to express himself.

Pratt and Eckstein agree that they have had to develop many new skills over the years, and not only as artists. For Pratt, one particular challenge is becoming comfortable showing his artwork to the public.

“The biggest obstacle is my own fear of exposing myself, that fear of failure,” he said. “You don’t have to have a disability to be afraid to fail.”