NewView Oklahoma is all about empowering individuals who are blind or have low vision, opening them up to a world of possibilities.
“[We] provide specialized services for people who are losing their vision or who have lost their vision,” said NewView President and CEO Lauren Branch.
This is year 75 for the nonprofit and the state’s largest employer of people who are blind.
“One of the things that we are known for is the manufacture of all of the firehoses for the U.S. Forest Service,” said Branch.
Along with employment they also provide other resources.
“Supports for families, for parents with children who are blind or visually impaired, enrichment programs, adaptive sports,” said Branch.
When NewView created an outdoor space for the clients they contacted sought-after artist John Bramblitt to paint a mural.
“New York, California, Texas, Florida, Korea,” said artist John Bramblitt.
However, the mural at NewView was special for Bramblitt. “When they were asking me to do it, I was like, I would love to do that, it would be such an honor,” said Bramblitt.
Bramblitt has been an artist his entire life, however, due to health challenges he lost his sight while in college, and assumed his days as an artist were over.
“You know I’m losing my eyesight; it’s been nice knowing you, thanks for the help, and they were like are you crazy? You know you can do whatever you want, you can be whatever you want,” said Bramblitt.
Eventually, he figured out a technique to paint what he couldn’t see.
“The black paint is a little rougher, so I can draw with the black, and I can feel it,” said Bramblitt.
He counts the bricks and feels for the color, creating a masterpiece specific to NewView.
“Then in the background, there is the Oklahoma City skyline, and then in the sky, I haven’t drawn it in yet, but there’s going to be a B52 bomber,” said Bramblitt.
The mural is proudly displayed on the North side of the NewView building.
“If it makes them smile, if it makes one person smile, then I’m super happy,” said Bramblitt.
