The photos are stunning, no doubt about it. But the annual Circle of Light photo project and exhibit surpasses artistic achievement and becomes extraordinary when you learn about the photographers. Each and every one was blind and now able to see as the result of a cornea transplant. For the fifth year, Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank asked cornea recipients to simply photograph something they were grateful to now see. The result is a collection of photos that covers subjects such as landscapes, animals and activities with a fresh, new viewpoint.
Photographer-exhibitor Ray Catalano
On Friday, March 10, around 250 guests gathered at Artwork Network in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, and enjoyed music by DJ Philip G, delicious passed hors d’oeuvres by Footers Catering & Events, and a variety of craft beers as they strolled through the gallery. Event organizers drove home the need for tissue donors with a hands-on experience that demonstrated how the simplest tasks become monumental for those with corneal blindness.The festive reception atmosphere became especially poignant at times when guests had the chance to meet donor family members who attended. The exhibit is open to the public until March 15.
Participating at the hands-on corneal-blindness experience
As the nonprofit organization responsible for the recovery and transplantation of donated eye tissues in Colorado (all 64 counties) for the past 33 years, Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank is the nonprofit organization that carries out the promise of eye donors in Colorado and Wyoming to help others overcome blindness. The eye bank has carried out this wish for more than 41,000 eye donors in Colorado and Wyoming by facilitating more than 40,000 sight-restorative transplants locally, domestically and throughout the world. RMLEB never turns away anyone needing a transplant, and either discounts or waives its reimbursement fee 60 percent of the time.
RMLEB is very proud to also increase eye, organ and tissue-donor awareness, engage in advocacy, and secure and provide resources for anyone to “Share the Circle of Light” through eye donation. For more information, please visit: www.corneas.org.
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- Mary Ann and Mike Fox
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- Tracy Anderson, with RMLEB development specialist, Brian Heider
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- Randy and Tracy Anderson
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- (l to r): Rod and Phyllis Wicklund, and RMLEB executive director, Edmund Jacobs
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- Board member Jeff Jeffers (left) and board VP Gary Broetzman
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- Photographer Terron Austin
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- Elizabeth Roberts poses with her photograph
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- Photographer-exhibitor Ray Catalano
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- Kevin Borfitz and Marie Bucuvalas
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- Volunteers John Michael and Danielle Percival
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- Brunella and James Verkler
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- (l to r): Claire Rossel, Amy Ferreira and Nikki Olds
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- Alison Smith and Dan Kelly
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- Christel Gayles (left) and DeVindra Williams
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- Janell Lewis, with RMLEB board president Ed Wright
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- DJ “Philip G”
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- Photographer Patricia and Vincent Badolato
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- (l to r): Brian Heider, Jill Friedentag, Lisa Isom and Leon Hoffman
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- (l to r): Kevin Borfitz, Marie Bucuvalas and Robert Austin
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- Marla Tanaka and Alex Ashenden
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- (l to r): Jill Friedentag, CyndiLee Bennett and David Friedentag
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- Board members (l to r): Gary Broetzman, Joe Rall, John Ballagh and Lewis Lyon
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- Photographer Susan Hess
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- (l to r): Aubrey and Bradley Ryan, with Harry and Ashley Davis
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- Board member Joanne Cook (left) and Lisa Isom
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- (l to r): Kelly Walsmith, Kendra McClinter, and Cyndi Walsmith
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- Burrell and Carrie Mitchell
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- Appreciating just one of the impressive photographs
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- Julie Spear with Jeff Johnson … Julie’s 19-year-old son was a cornea donor.
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- Chris and Stacy Hutchcraft
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- Trisha Ramirez (left) and Kathy Pugh
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- Manning the registration table (l to r): Stacy Hutchcraft, Charrayle Grayson and Dawn Schulter
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- Joyce and David Levis
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- Steve and Stephanie Spring
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- A sip of champagne pairs nicely with a beautiful photo exhibit.
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- A video depicted all of the cornea recipients’ photographs.
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- Placing bids at the silent auction
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- Al and Barb Austin
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- At the corneal-blindness experience
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- Participating at the hands-on corneal-blindness experience
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- (l to r): Susy Osorio-Kinsky, Ivy Kinksy, Marie Levine, Fletcher Brown and Marie Levine
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- Danette and Leonard Silabas
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- (l to r): DeAnn Vickles, Kayt Smith and Micah Vickles
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- Lisa Isom and Leon Hoffman
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- Unseasonably warm weather called for adult beverages.
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- Betsy Bohanna (left) and Ann Loflin
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- Mike Smith (left) and Brian Henderson
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- Every photograph featured the photographer-cornea recipient’s story.
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- Leslie and Matthew Sentman
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- A little romance at the exhibition
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- Bruce Nordwall wears his Lions jacket with pride.
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- Perusing the exhibit up close
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- BEth Hungerford (left) and Amber Brenzikofer
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- Peter Johnson (left) and Marie Belew Wheatley
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- Reps from Harvard Park Surgery Center
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- Lindsey Smith, with her “art husband” Mike Smith
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- Son and mom Kevin Borfitz and Earline Farnsworth
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- Marnie and Kipp Chambers, with baby art-lover Calder
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- Toni Burns (left) and Mike Zenz
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- Mary Ann and Mike Fox check out the accompanying catalog on the Circle of Light Project.
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- Photographer Jacinda Lay
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- Jacinda Lay and Jess St. Peter
