WINTER HAVEN — At 5 years old, Amber Hall took up a pencil and began making her first sketches and drawings, eventually incorporating colored ink, acrylic paint and watercolor to her sketches.
Three years later, the vivacious 8-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes — juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.
About 1.25 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes and an estimated 40,000 people are newly diagnosed each year in the U.S., according to the American Diabetes Association.
Amber, now 15 and living in Kissimmee, controls her diabetes through insulin injections. And through the support, research and direction of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, she’s been able to keep her dream alive of someday becoming a professional illustrator.
As a way to show appreciation for the JDRF’s commitment to diabetes research and to support its commitment to finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes, Amber is
showcasing and selling pieces of her original artwork from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Outer Space Gallery and Studio, S.W. 230 Ave C, Winter Haven.
The goal is to help the JDRF and at the same time showcase her artwork. She said 10 percent of her sales would be donated to the foundation.
“I want to raise whatever I can. I just want to give back to something that has helped me so much,” said Amber, who has three sisters – Frances, 29, Ashley, 27, and Kimberly, 23. “When you’re young, they (JDRF) help with supplies, give you classes to help you understand the disease. And they’re working to find a cure for diabetes; that’s a plus.”
At least 80 percent of all JDRF expenditures each fiscal year are used to support scientific research and diabetes education, said Martin Bernstine, JDRF Central Florida executive director.
Bernstine, based in Orlando, said about 200 to 300 new cases of the disease are found in Central Florida each year.
There are six JDRF chapters in Florida.
“She’s very dedicated to her work, and she’s very determined with her art to help others with childhood diabetes,” Bernstine said of Amber. “As a young adult growing up with the disease, she’s dealing with a lot. She’s doing an amazing thing to help everyone living with diabetes and using her talents to create awareness.”
In the Outer Space gallery, Amber pointed out some of the artwork she’s selling. Among her favorites are 2016’s “Visionary Beauty,” a pencil sketch she was commissioned to do for a tattoo; “Moonlight,” a sketch of a tree with a mini-galaxy among its branches; and “Kimberly,” an ink drawing of a girl in a grassy field with the moon in the middle.
Leslie Hall, Amber's mother, said she saw a magazine article about Outer Space Gallery during a visit to Amber's doctor in April. She said she read that the gallery gave opportunities for children to show their works. So she spoke with the gallery administration about her daughter's work and showed Amanda's portfolio to resident artist Trent Manning. After that, Jane Waters, Outer Space executive director, asked Amanda to display her art.
“From what I sell, I hope proceeds will help continue to help with (diabetes) education and help fund research for juvenile diabetes,” Amanda said.
In addition to artwork sales, there will also be raffles and JDRF bracelets and jewelry for sale.
Paul Catala can be reached at paul.catala@theledger.com or 863-802-7533. He can be reached at Twitter @pcat0226.
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