Acrylic by Stanton High School Graduate Accepted by MDA Art Collection

Muscular Dystrophy Association
Thursday, 3 July 2003

An acrylic winter scene painted by Lacy Jo Gustafson of Stanton, N.D., has been accepted by the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Art Collection. Now in its 12th year, the Collection features artwork by people from across the country with neuromuscular diseases.

"Grandpa's Pride" is a classic winter scene, depicting a rural barn, its roof covered with snow. A nearby snow-dusted evergreen tree looks like it's just waiting to be decorated for the upcoming holiday season.

Gustafson has enjoyed painting since she was in the fourth grade, and won several ribbons for her work at local art shows in Stanton and Mandan, N.D.

Gustafson, who recently graduated from Stanton High School, enjoyed art and science in school. Gustafson also is an active member of the Greater North Dakota Chapter of MDA, and has represented MDA at the North Dakota State Fair.

Gustafson, 18, is affected by myotonic muscular dystrophy, a disease characterized by generalized weakness and muscle-wasting, first affecting the face, feet, hands and neck.

"We're deeply honored to welcome Lacy Jo Gustafson's work into the permanent MDA Art Collection," MDA President & CEO Robert Ross said. "Her contribution to our Collection will undoubtedly delight all who see it as it travels to galleries and museums as part of special exhibits of the Collection."

The new addition by Gustafson will be displayed at MDA's national headquarters in Tucson, Arizona. The Collection was established in 1992 to focus attention on the achievements of artists with disabilities, and to emphasize that physical disability is no barrier to creativity.

The permanent Collection comprises some 300 works by artists aged 2 to 82 and represents all 50 states. Each artist is affected by one of the neuromuscular diseases in the MDA program.

Selected art from the Collection has been exhibited at the Dallas Museum of Art; Cork Gallery at Lincoln Center and Forbes Magazine Galleries in New York; Tucson Museum of Art; Bishop Museum in Honolulu; Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center; Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art; Los Angeles Children's Museum; JFK Center at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.; Fresno Metropolitan Museum; Duluth Art Institute; Capital Children's Museum, Washington, D.C.; and the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn, Mich.

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. MDA maintains clinics for area adults and children affected by neuromuscular diseases at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo.

The Association's programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors.

For more information, or to contact Muscular Dystrophy Association, see their website at: www.mdausa.org