By HEATHER HANSEN
Two artists are working to portray what the blind and visually impaired 'see' in their world.
The result of their efforts, two student murals, will be displayed in the BYU Bookstore Monday through June 27 with the theme, 'The World Around You.'
Located in the northeast corner of the bookstore -- in-between the Bookstore and the old Cougareat -- the theme of the two 8-feet by 4-feet murals will be displayed for customers to observe and vote on their favorite.
Bookstore Manager of Creative Services, Val Ugolini, said about six months ago he decided it would be a good idea to fill an empty store wall with student murals. However, because he wanted to be able to change the murals from time to time, panels were put up to hang students' art displays.
Ever since January, a bi-weekly contest has been held between two student art displays. After customers voted and a winner was named, the victor received a $50 gift certificate.
This particular contest, the last one of the season, was inspired by police officer Alan Chipman, who works with visually impaired students.
Alumnus and Provo resident Kevin Bleyl said that two years ago he had 20/20 vision. However, because of diabetic retnopothy -- an eye condition where the eyes do not get enough oxygen -- his blood vessels took over his eye, causing him to become completely blind.
'Although at first everyday things were hard, they eventually became easier,' Bleyl said. 'Losing my vision has given me a greater appreciation for things.'
Artist Christina Loosli, a sophomore from Gainsville, Fla., said her mural -- painted in acrylic -- is an overall progression of Bleyl's gradual loss of sight.
Loosli is working to paint an interpretation of what he described as looking through an unfocused camera lens into a world of charcoal gray.
Artist Isaac Howard, a sophomore from Kenstin, N.C., is working with visually impaired student C.J. Sampson, who has only peripheral vision.
Howard is taking a familiar scene on campus showing how Sampson would see it.
Chipman said these murals are only the beginning.
A few years ago when Chipman was a police officer in Dallas, a friend of his encouraged him to get involved in volunteer work with visually impaired students.
Because of his experience working with those with little or no vision, when Chipman came to BYU in Winter Semester 1997, he initiated a BYUSA club for the visually impaired -- Vision Beyond Sight.
Although everyone is invited to join, the leadership is made up of visually impaired members. Sampson is the president.
The bookstore murals are only a portion of a larger art project, Chipman said. In the long run he hopes to have more art concerning the visually impaired.