Sharing Voices

We are born into bodies we do not choose. As we grow older we discover them, learn how to use them and eventually understand what they mean in a historical and social context. Race, class, gender, sex and ability are all things each human embodies. Certain bodies are more privileged than others. Craft, and all artwork, made by people of all identities, is enhancing and completing the history of art and craft.

The purpose of this exhibition of art and craft by differently-abled makers working at Creativity Explored is to share the essential voices of these artists and shift the consciousness of viewers. Creativity Explored (founded in 1983) is a non-profit organization in San Francisco that “gives artists with developmental disabilities the means to create and share their work with the community, celebrating the power of art to change lives.”(1) In the media, entertainment and art world, there is a lack of representation of people who are differently-abled and of their artwork.

Creativity Explored has about 135 adult artists working in the studios every year. Along with Creative Growth in Oakland, CA and NIAD Art Center in Richmond, CA, it was founded by Florence Ludins-Katz and Elias Katz. Florence was an artist and Elias was a psychologist who worked with people who are differently-abled. These organizations are more than just art studios. Having had the opportunity to work with the Creativity Explored community, I have witnessed that art making is an effective way for each of them to express their emotions, thoughts, interests and cultures. Their voices are powerful, meaningful and need to be heard and acknowledged by the broader public.

I spent time interviewing artists and teachers about their experiences working at CE and how their work deeply touches the broader public. Each of them have a lot to say about their artwork, a practice that they are all committed to. CE is a place that allows these artists to contribute to a collective and individual well being. Creativity Explored is at the center of social justice.

While maintaining a regular studio practice, Creativity Explored artists are a part of a close-knit community. They all are very supportive of each other making the workroom a place of laughter, love and acceptance. This non-profit also creates plans for artists to exhibit and sell their artwork, giving artists sources of income. Multiple art shows are held throughout the year to promote the organization and the artists.

Artists also have opportunities to immerse themselves in the surrounding Bay Area art world, visiting different museums, organizations and galleries to gain inspiration. Each of the studios are open to the public and encourage all people to come visit the studios and gallery. Visiting artists get to facilitate workshops with the CE artists and share new skills. As a fellow at Creativity Explored I ran a monotype printmaking workshop that allowed for me to work with and get to know most artists in the studio. We exhibited the prints in a show at CE’s 2^nd studio. I worked one on one with some of the artists helping them create bodies of work.

Every artist is different and their creations show it. Some use art as their only way of communicating. A wide variety of mediums are used in the CE studio. Their finished pieces show their decision-making process. According to Danielle, one of the visual art instructors, “I see a refreshingly little distinction among CE artists, and staff in many cases, between ‘art’ and craft. Studio artists have an inspiring array of entry points and points of departure when it comes to making their work and generally seem uninterested in conceptually delineating between the two.” (2)

Artists like Makeya Kaiser have many different entry points when it comes to her art practice. Female pop artists like Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey inspire Makeya. She creates pillows and embroidery pieces honoring the songs of these women, embroidering the lyrics of her favorite tracks. She also creates her own music videos where she designs and hand makes everything to be used in the video. She sings, acts and speaks in the videos creating her own personalized take on something she feels really connected to.

Music and iconography are popular with other CE artists. Christina Marie Fong draws on clothing, creating a collage on fabric of her favorite celebrities. Christina has a big, bright personality that makes many people in the studio laugh. When I asked her who her favorite celebrities are she started firing off a big list: “number one is Aaliyah, then Whitney Houston, then Beyonce, Janet Jackson, TLC, En Vogue, Christina Aguilera… the list goes on.” She says her favorite thing to make is her drawings on jeans and jackets. She wears them herself and she told me she has already sold 3 pairs of jeans.

Creativity Explored is one place that truly changes people’s lives. It is more than just an art studio. These artists are special not because they are differently-abled but because they are dedicated, talented, and motivated human beings who bring valuable and unique experiences. There are so many adults who are differently- abled who don’t have access to these types of resources and truly need them. It is inspiring to see individual growth, the moments of discovery and the collective impact each member of this community have on each other.

(1) Mission statement for Creativity Explored, https://www.creativityexplored.org/about/about

(2) Email to author, November 19th, 2017