"Goodwill Advertising Sponsor and Supporter of 2013 Reel Abilities Film Festival!"

Saturday, March 16th marked the Closing Night Program for the week-long “Reel Abilities” Film Festival held at various venues throughout Greater Cincinnati.

L to R: Niel Hartman, V&V, CARA, and Sharon Hannon, OVGI and CARA

The Closing Night Program featuring a film about artist Judith Scott was held at the Contemporary Art Center in downtown Cincinnati. The Reel Abilities Film Festival is held annually and showcases films produced, directed and/or featuring the abilities of individuals with disabilities. The Closing Night Program film premiered a film about Judith Scott, who attained world-wide recognition as a sculpture artist. Born with Down Syndrome and labeled as “profoundly mentally retarded,” Judith’s exceptional gifts were discovered when she became part of the Creative Growth Art Center in California. Her art is now held in permanent collections in museums in Paris, Prague, New York, Chicago and Baltimore.

The Reel Abilities Film Festival this year was co-sponsored and coordinated by Goodwill CARA partners, Visionaries and Voices and LADD, both of which did a masterful job of producing the week-long community event. In attendance at the Closing Night Program were numerous artists that currently exhibit their work through the support of Visionaries and Voices as well as some of whom who are also participants in Goodwill’s work programs. The premiere of the film was followed by a discussion of Judith’s life and art featuring Flavia Bastos, University of Cincinnati School of Art, Tom Di Maria, Director, Creative Growth Arts Center, California and Matthew Higgs, Director/Chief Curator, White Columns, New York. “We were delighted to be part of the Closing Night Program for the Reel Abilities Film Festival and commend both Visionaries and Voices and LADD on their hard work on producing this amazing event,” said Sharon Hannon, Goodwill Marketing Specialist.