If you’re a fan of inspirational stories (like I am) then this one might be right up your alley ..

Michael Naranjo, Pete Eckert and John Bramblitt are three men that are not only artists, they’re also blind. Despite their loss of vision, Michael, Pete and John have found a way to live creative and fulfilling lives through their capabilities as blind artists. They each specialize in different types of art: sculpting (Michael), photography (Pete) and mixed media art (John).

A little more on the artists:

“While serving his country during the Vietnam War, a grenade accident left Michael Naranjo blind and his right hand disabled. This did not stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a sculptor. In fact, he’s one of a privileged few invited to examine and touch Michelangelo’s Michael in Florence, Italy, and invited to the Louvre in Paris after hours to feel the Medici Venus,” (Official Press Release).”

“It is important to me that the sighted think about blindness,” said photographer Pete Eckert. “What I get out of taking photos is the event, not the picture. I do the large prints to get sighted people thinking. Talking with people at galleries builds a bridge between my mind’s eye and their vision of my work. Occasionally, people refuse to believe I’m blind. I’m a visual person. I just can’t see,” (Official Press Release).

“For artist John Bramblitt, a Denton resident, his vibrant works exhibit movement and feelings taken from real people and events in his life. Discover how he’s trained himself to identify paint colors through touch and feel. His workshops are unique in the art world for artists at all levels,” (Official Press Release).

In addition, these brilliant artists will team up with The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) in an attempt to raise money for the visually impaired.

On Wednesday, September 21,  The American Foundation for the Blind will host, “Artists with a Vision,” which will be a one-night-only art exhibit that will benefit those with vision loss. The exhibit and cocktail reception begins at 6:30 p.m. at Samuel Lynne Galleries which is located in the Dallas Design District at 1105 Dragon Street.

I highly encourage this event to anyone who is interested! What a great way to support these artists and the visually impaired. For more information and to reserve your place contact Abi Erickson at or . Tickets start at $75.00 and donations are very much appreciated, after all, this is a fundraiser!

To learn more about the artists check out their websites: www.artknowledgenews.com(Michael Naranjo), www.bramblitt.net and www.peteeckert.com.

-Eryn