“Another Point of View: 4 Visually-Impaired Artists,” features extraordinary work created by Mary Ann Dunwoodie, Michael Freeman, Dianne Michels and Terry Newhard, through Nov. 4, Rotunda Gallery, City Hall, Bethlehem.

The invitational exhibition focuses on how the artists overcame the challenges they faced with deteriorating eyesight, tunnel vision and color blindness.

“When you’re young, you don’t really have to make choices,” says Dunwoodie about her “Neapolitan Girl” (circa 2021; acrylic, 16 in. x 20 in.) an uncomplicated depiction of a child eating ice cream.

Dunwoodie continues: “As we grow older, we have to make choices and decisions, and we can look back on the palatable time when things were simple and easy.”

Bethlehem-based Dunwoodie learned painting and drawing from her artist father as well as through private lessons. Her eyesight began failing with detached retinas. around 19 years ago.

“World of Colors No. 1” (acrylic paint pens on canvas, 24 in. x 24 in.) by Freeman is one of the abstract works the artist has successfully created despite tunnel vision and being partially colorblind.

“My work is a way for me to push the limits of my eyesight and allow me to use my art as a creative outlet,” says Freeman. He incorporates texture into his vibrantly-colored paintings to help those with vision impairments to experience his artwork.

Michels’ “Covered Bridge” (pastels, 12 in. x 16 in.) is a more realistic depiction of the subject. Working from photographs, the Allentown-based artist, coping with tunnel vision and colorblindness, follows a grid pattern to place her sketch lines and colors.

“She’s really amazing,” Michels says of her Baum School of Art mentor, Master Pastelist Jacqueline Meyerson, who taught her how to work with grids.

Michels carefully labels and arranges her pastels and pastel pencils to help her as she works on her highly-detailed artwork. “If you have a good attitude about what you have, you can do anything,” Michels says.

“The real rock stars are Dianne, Mary Ann and Michael. They have much greater challenges than I do,” says Newhard. “I’m just a kid who’s colorblind.”

Newhard retired in 2018 from a New Jersey nonprofit and was looking to “keep the other side of my brain working.” While admiring the painting of an artist while out bicycling, he decided to take art lessons.

With his impressionistic “The Old Connecticut Cottage” (circa 2022; acrylic on canvas, 11 in. x 14 in.) and other works, Newhard says, “I’m not really trying to paint things, just trying to paint the way light hits green and different colors.” He does not worry that his perception of color differs from others.

“I just do it for fun,” says Newhard, whose “kitchen island studio” is in Easton.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

“Another Point of View: 4 Visually-Impaired Artists,” through Nov. 4, Rotunda Gallery, City Hall, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem. Gallery hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday, Closed weekends, holidays. Information: https://bfac-lv.org/

“Gallery View” is a column about artists, exhibitions and galleries. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com