Disabled Pakistani student honored at Art Festival in USA

Karachi: The art of expression is a basic need that lives within all of humanity. But, finding the right path to focus on our ideas is the challenging part.

This is particularly relevant for those amongst us who requires an outlet to express them, those who might suffer from a disability that makes normal life a challenging life for them.

Uriel Levitt and Sibtain Junejo are two such souls who did not permit their shortcomings contain them from trouncing out their creativity on canvas.

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Coming from two completely opposite backgrounds but finding a medium that links them in unity, these two strong artists together with other international artists were celebrated at the 12th Annual Art Exhibit ‘Yo Soy, Je Suis, I Am the World’, in the U.S. Department of Education (ED) in Washington, D.C.

Sibtain Junejo, a 15-year-old art fan from Karachi, together with his family attended the event organized to promote the mission of VSA.

VSA is an international firm that wants to “provide arts and education opportunities for the people along with disabilities and increase access to the arts for everyone.”

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The founder of VSA, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, worked for almost forty years to make this platform possible.

She was overjoyed at the opening ceremony, along with Sibtain and Uriel helping usher in this edition of VSA. 

To honor the international artists, Sue Swenson, Deputy assistant secretary for the US Department of Education Office on Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, among others, shared her perspective on the importance of art as a medium that permits clear expression.

The exhibition was opened to the public on November 17th, 2016 and was continue to display these pieces till the end of December, giving people an opportunity to experience art that shouts out for a amalgamated front.