A Passion for Passionate Focus

Blind Artist Vision: blog by Stella De Genova

Last week, I was honored to be an attending artist at the 24^th annual Passionate Focus fundraising gala for Second Sense blind services.  To walk into this event and view all of the outstanding artwork, you could not guess that it was done by legally blind artists.  There were paintings and photography that ran the spectrum from realistic to abstract.

The artwork varied as much as the artists, who come from many backgrounds and personal journeys.  The chosen artists have come from the U.S., Canada and even France.  We may all have different stories and artistic styles but our love for art is universal as is our gratitude to Second Sense for seeing and respecting us.  Below is one of the paintings I exhibited, On the Colorado River.

What we all had in common on this night was our appreciation for the amazing work that Second Sense does every day to help the blind community in the Chicago area.  Some of the clients of Second Sense were also at the event and they shared some of what Second Sense has assisted them in doing.  People spoke about finding their independence and sense of self again.  We heard about mobility training, getting reacquainted with technology and using accessibility on smart phones.   Second Sense has helped clients create systems and habits to complete tasks, to do and find things in their homes, to travel, and to use trains and buses safely.

The story that stood out the most to me and shows just how much the staff and volunteers at Second Sense care was that of Maggie, who was blind and pregnant.  Cody,a  staff member at Second Sense helped her get comfortable with what she’d need to do at home to care for her baby, including assembling and disassembling baby bottles.  When Maggie had an ultrasound, she, of course, could not see the image. Cody took a copy of the photograph and used a 3D printer to make a model of the fetus so she could know what her baby’s form felt like.  These are people who truly care about helping those of us with vision impairment.

Second Sense helps approximately 400 blind clients a year and all of the services they provide are free to the clients.  There is no other place like this in the Chicago area and they survive on donations.  A portion of the artwork sold from Passionate Focus also goes to Second Sense.  Many pieces of art sold that night.  I sold 2 of the 3 paintings that I exhibited.  The artwork is still being shown and can be purchased through Second Sense and I urge you to go to the website, take a look at the amazing work and even see if there something you would like to purchase (click to view Passionate Focus 2026). Even if you’re not in the market for a new painting or photography, please consider giving a donation to a worthy cause.  When I had to stop working due to my vision loss, Second Sense played a large role in helping me find my self-confidence again, as they do with so many people every year.  They make a difference!

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