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Gifted Hands |
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Selected Artwork from July 9 – August 7, 2009 The JFK Mental Health Center and the Coalition Ingenu Self-taught Artists’ Collective have been working together since 1996. Facilitated by Sister Anne Palmer, the art program at JFK has consistently offered art supplies, encouragement, and a creative atmosphere for primarily self-taught artists with histories of mental illnesses, some of whom have also experienced periods of homelessness. According to Sister Anne, the program at JFK is less about “teaching” than it is about “nurturing” the talents of the participants and supporting them in their desire produce artwork. Sister Anne believes that engaging in the creative process is very therapeutic.
When Coalition Ingenu was founded in 1996 as a resource to help exhibit artwork from various art programs throughout the city, participants from the JFK art program were among the first to exhibit with the collective. Coalition Ingenu has since presented or assisted in the presentation of over 100 exhibits of artwork by artists marginalized by a wide variety of disadvantages, including poverty, mental illnesses, physical disability, substance abuse, advanced age and incarceration. Coalition Ingenu also facilitated art programs at homeless shelters for many years with a similar philosophy to that of the JFK art program. This exhibit, entitled Gifted Hands, brings together artwork from both organizations to provide incentive and encouragement to those who have not had the opportunity to exhibit their artwork quite as frequently as others. These are the individuals who demonstrate potential, but who perhaps need that extra validation that can only come from an exhibit in a fine art gallery with an impressive reputation. Opening Reception Thursday July 9, 6 – 9 pm Gallery Hours by appointment images above: |
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