Patient Services ALS Artist Featured in MDA Art Exhibit at Columbia University On May 2nd the Muscular Dystrophy Association and The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Center at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center are co-sponsoring an ALS art exhibit to be held at the Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion. This is the first time the art exhibit will feature a local artist living with ALS. Mr. William Ross (ALS Newsletter, Vol. 13, No. 3), diagnosed with ALS and cared for at the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Center at Columbia is committed to supporting clinical and research activities at Columbia University as well as nationally through MDA. This exhibit offers an opportunity for Mr. Ross to showcase his gifts and talents as well as to promote his mission of raising awareness of ALS. The exhibit will open with an artist’s reception held on May 2nd between 5 and 7 PM at the Russ Berrie Pavilion on the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Campus. All of the art on display was completed during Mr. Ross’s illness with ALS. The exhibit will remain on display until May 14th. The MDA Art Collection was established in 1992 to focus attention on the achievements of artists with disabilities, and to emphasize that creativity transcends physical disability. The collection, on permanent display at MDA National Headquarters in Tucson AZ, comprises more than 200 original works by adults and children who have a neuromuscular disease. Selections from the collection have been exhibited in various venues throughout the continental United States. The ALS Center at Columbia, sponsored by MDA, is very proud to be the first Center to display the ALS artists collection in its entirety. They are also proud that Mr. William Ross, one of their patients, is the lead artist displaying his work. Mr. Ross has lost the use of his hands to ALS, and is now creating art with mouth held paint brush. He will be demonstrating this art form at the opening reception. Mr. Ross credits his transition from hand to mouth painting to Dr. Hiroshi Mitsumoto, the medical director of the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS center. "Dr. Mitsumoto encouraged me not to give up when I lost the use of my hands." Mr. Ross has just completed, a painting entitled "Pride of the Yankees", a portrait of Lou Gehrig giving his farewell address after being diagnosed with ALS. Please join us at this wonderful event that captures the spirit of actively living with ALS. If you would like to attend, please contact the Carrie Sanford at the NY MDA Office at 212-689-9040