Art News

At the studio of the Creative Growth Art Center, everyone is paying full attention to their work quietly. Some of them are painting, some of them are sketching, and others are doing pottery, carpentry, fiber art, and printing. They create freely without limit. Behind the creation of  each unique work of art are all the hands of artists with disabilities. They break free from the limit of their bodies, their art works have been exhibited in museums around the world, and live their life to the fullest of their hearts in the hall of arts.
During Eden’s “2022 International Workshop on Rehabilitation and Arts” online workshop, Honorary Director Mr. Tom di Maria (Tom) of the Creative Growth Art Center, who has worked at the Center for 23 years, shared the background of the Center.

The Creative Growth Art Center was created in 1974 by Florence Ludins-Katz, an artist, and Elias Katz, a psychologist. At that time, San Francisco Bay Area was undergoing a great social change, and persons with disabilities faced deinstitutionalization. The founders believed that persons with disabilities could express themselves through the arts. They promoted the inclusion of artists with disabilities in contemporary art, so they started this art project in their own place.

Create Through Interests Without Any Background Required
During weekdays, artists with disabilities may go to the studio without a fee. They can use any of the materials freely, and they do not need an art portfolio to join. “Actually, most people who came here did not have experience creating art. What we did was merely show them around the studio and see if they would like to do artwork here.” Tom explained.
Artists with disabilities can choose whichever art field they would like to work in, for example, pottery, painting, and so on. The staff members here will assist them in obtaining the materials, but never tell them what to do. Instead, they just let them to create freely. On the other hand, they also pay salaries to these artists with disabilities. No matter if they have artwork or not, they receive salaries as long as they join the program.

Allow Free Space to Create Without Interfering
Here, artists with disabilities are the protagonists. As Tom emphasized, “We are not a teaching a group, but a learning group.” The staff members here do not teach as usual way, nor will they tell the artists with disabilities how to create or touch the artwork. Instead, they encourage them to ask questions and then offer them skills. “Most importantly, we choose to believe in everyone. Perhaps this is what others have not done.”
Some may ask, “Are we art therapists?” The answer is no. According to Tom, “We are artists, but we also believe that sometimes arts do have healing effects.”

For now, there are 28 staff members at the Center with 162 Creative Growth artists. Their disabilities include intellectual disability, Autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental cognitive disabilities.
Artists with disabilities can create without any constraints. They are free at the studio and may stay whenever they want. “We do not say that they have to create artwork, but what they do are always full of the sense of art”, said Tom.
In addition, whether the completed artwork would be exhibited or sold totally depends on the artists. If they choose to sell the work, half of the profit will go to the artist, and the other half will be used by the non-profit of the Center.

To maintain the operation of the studio, the budget each year is more than 3.2 million U.S. dollars. Among these, 1.5 million dollars come from their revenue and donations from the public as well as private charitable foundations.
Tom believes that it is important for the Creative Growth Art Center to become a modern industry. They have to connect the artists with disabilities and their plans with the art world to generate revenue.

Crossover and Collaborate with Fashion Brands
From the aspect of marketing, the Center arranges the artists’ artwork to exhibit and sell in different art museums and galleries. Their artwork not only is available for exhibition but also connects with fashion, which creates a great result. For example, they collaborated with a fashion designer in London and created a fashion brand called “Creative Growth for Everybody”, selling T-shirts designed by artists with disabilities in department stores.
Tom also shared that they have also design bags for a fashion brand that are available for purchase around the world. In addition, they also collaborate with a shower gel company in the U.S. to design their bottles. The various marketing strategies of the Center have truly brought out the best of arts.

One of the artists, Dan Miller, has been in the Center since 1992. He is an expert in contemporary art. His artwork has been selected for the Venice Biennale in 2017, and has been invited to exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art. Until now, his artwork has been collected by many museums.

Upon coming to the Center, those with disabilities could be free by the arts. “They found themselves and could express their feelings. Many persons with disabilities have never been asked about their lives. No one has ever paid attention to them.”
However, as they became an artist, things changed. “My artwork has made me, as well as others happy”, said Rickie Algarva.
The Center has been operated for years, and Tom has been deeply immersed in it. As Tom thought about his own experience, he expressed, “We learned about their lives and how they experience things. Their artworks are so wonderful that the power is substantial.” This is his truest realisation.

Reference: Eden E-News
Link to the video of the International Workshop on Rehabilitation and Arts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCvBeb2mUMM