"I am a dyslexic artist based in Washington, D.C.," reads an e-mail message from Julian Oteyza, a man who said he would like to be in contact with similar artists in our area. His timing could hardly be improved upon.

The third annual "Shining a Light" art exhibit -- which celebrates the work of artists with dyslexia and attention deficit disorder -- opens Jan. 15 at the Art & Cultural Center at Fallbrook.

The exhibit is being mounted by Stoney and Gloria DeMent, founders of the Dyslexia Foundation, an Escondido-based organization. The opening weekend of "Shining a Light" will be marked by activities designed especially to interest some of the schoolchildren whose work will be on display. Children's mural painting with Phil Yeh, as well as book-signings, songs and storytelling take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Yeh is an internationally known cartoonist and the creator of children's educational comic books.

At last year's exhibit, the works of 22 adult artists were featured. All 22 were dyslexic and some also had some degree of attention deficit disorder. One, the featured artist, was William Ware, whose bronze statue of a roadrunner, "Crown Prince," drew significant attention. It was subsequently purchased by the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and now resides in the sculpture garden at the Palomares House, the Land Conservancy's headquarters.

Gloria DeMent has, since the first show in February 2002, insisted that "the focus of the show is on ability, not disability."

"For years," she said, "people with dyslexia have been regarded as disabled. We prefer to call them 'different.' "

People who have been diagnosed with dyslexia, attention deficit disorder and/or varying levels of autism frequently have a high degree of artistic ability. Exhibiting artists this year will include John Branstetter, whose bronze titled "Illuminating Thought" will be on display, and artist Dick Kuffner, who will show his painting "Short Cut."