A traumatic, life-altering experience could have stopped Passle Helminski from carrying on with her art and her life.

Instead she took the opportunity to change her life and help visually impaired children learn to do the same.

An Erie resident, Ms. Helminski has been spending time at the Keystone Blind Association in Sharon teaching the children how to make tactile murals and enjoy art even if they can't see it.

Ms. Helminski said she was not always visually impaired. She was attacked in a parking lot, suffering injuries that caused her to have a stroke. The stroke caused her to lose her vision and the loss of her right side and speech.

After learning how to speak again and regaining use of her right side, Ms. Helminski said she knew she had a choice: to change how she did things or let her ordeal get the best of her.

She began creating 3-D art, and now she teaches that art to children who are visually impaired. She said she also wants to teach kids to "dig deep and go for it."

Ms. Helminski has been traveling to Sharon to work with 20 Keystone Blind Association students since May. The program is paid for by a grant through the Mid-Atlanic Arts Foundation in Maryland.

Students created their own 3-D canvases that represent who they are and what they enjoy in life.

Shayna Wimer, 8, of Patterson Township, Pa., created a canvas that showcases her love of music, birds, the outdoors and candy. Shayna said she added fluffy snow to her canvas because she loves to play outside in the cold and especially likes sled riding.

George Casselberry, 17, of New Castle, created a bird out of feathers. George said he's been interested in birds since he was 4.

A fan of music, the Laurel High School student taught himself to play the harmonica. He said he added a clarinet mouthpiece and reeds to his canvas to show his love for music.

George's mother, Bonnie, said the art project is a good opportunity for the kids. She said that in high school, art is an elective and "everything is so fast paced" that not all students can participate.

Levi McGuire, 11, of Mercer, chose to represent his heritage by adding feathers to his canvas. Levi said he is half Cherokee Indian. He also included objects on his work of art to show his interest in music, animals, the outdoors and his love of making noise.

Kathie Preece, children's program coordinator for the Keystone Blind Association, said the students had a great time with the project. She said the agency is applying for another grant in the hopes of having an ongoing art project.

Getting the grant was a "big feather in their (the Keystone Blind Association) cap and my cap, too," Ms. Helminski said. She said she loves working with children.

"These kids help me be more creative myself," she said.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharonherald.com

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