ARTWORK BY DACULA ARTIST ACCEPTED INTO MDA ART COLLECTION

TUCSON, Ariz., September 5, 2008 – An oil painting by Conor Roberts of Dacula, Ga., has been accepted by the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Art Collection. Now in its 16th year, the Collection features artwork by people from across the country with muscular dystrophy and related diseases.

Old Truck on a Fall Day

Roberts’ “Old Truck on a Fall Day,” depicts an old pickup truck parked beside a group of trees with brightly-colored fall leaves. Roberts, 13, has been drawing for several years and began painting with oils three years ago. He also enjoys studying science.

Roberts has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which causes progressive muscle wasting and weakness. He uses a power wheelchair for mobility.

“We’re deeply honored to welcome Conor Roberts’ work into the permanent MDA Art Collection,” MDA President & CEO Gerald Weinberg said. “His 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 Roberts is on display at MDA’s national headquarters in Tucson, Ariz., and can be seen at http://www.mda.org/commprog/art/displayall.aspx. Roberts’ piece also will be included in MDA Art Collection traveling exhibits.

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 350 works by artists aged 2 to 82 and represents all 50 states. Each artist is affected by one of the muscle 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 the Forbes Collection 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.; The Sheldon Art Galleries, St. Louis, Mo.; 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 muscular dystrophy and related muscle diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services and far-reaching professional and public health education. The Association’s programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors.

In Atlanta, MDA maintains clinics for area adults and children registered with the Association at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite and Emory University.