Tired of the drab walls
of your place of employment? Turn it into an art gallery. That's
what folks did at the Institute on Community Integration at the
University of Minnesota. They even went one step farther-they're
showing art created by people with disabilities in a year-long project
titled "Changing Landscapes: The Visiting Artists
with Disabilities Project." The project features rotating exhibits
of work by artists from three community organizations: Interact Center
for Visual and Performing Arts, Partnership Resources, Inc., and
Courage Center . In the current exhibit, the second in the series
of three, the featured artists are all from Partnership Resources,
Inc. (PRI). The four-month show at Pattee Hall was kicked off with
a grand opening last month. Many of the artists were on hand to show-and
talk about-their work. Considering the fabulous diversity of styles
and powerful images, it quickly became clear to the visitor that
these folks were not recipients of charity; the reality is just the
opposite. They're making the world a better, more beautiful place-and
making money at the same time.
Each of the artists
featured receives art instruction and studio space at one of PRI's
facilities around the metro area. But this art is not about therapy
or staying occupied. It's serious art-and serious business.
As one artist, Kirk, puts it, "I don't get paid to do the art work,
but I get paid to sell the paintings."
This is art that gets out in the immediate community: coffee shops,
medical facilities, U of M buildings, and online.
Artists not only sell
their original work, but also get royalties from sales of prints
and greeting cards. In fact, plans are already in the works for
expanding to new markets, according to CEO Norm Munk. "We
have cards in many retail stores. Corporate customers are also a
big piece of it; lots of our business is holiday cards for corporations."
As our tour guide led
us throughout the hallways, artists stood by their work, ready
to answer questions or just chat. Artist Wi Wasté Wia
Day ("good day woman," in Lakota) said she came to PRI about a year
ago. But she's no beginner to art. "I've been drawing since I was
five," she
says. "Now I'm 23. I draw from my emotions. I just have to see something
one time; I can draw it a half hour later, no problem. What I really
love is animé-animation from Japan."
"I also draw cultural pictures," said Day. "I'm Native American-Anishinabe.
Full blooded-from Mille Lacs. I like to paint on one of the four
sacred colors for Native Americans as my background color: white,
red, black and yellow. Black is probably my favorite."
Another artist, Mona,
recalled the feeling she had when she first saw one of her paintings
on a greeting card. "When they first showed
me the card with my picture on it," she said, "I was really happy,
and really surprised. Wow, this is my painting." She also remembered
how impressed her father was when he saw the card. "I sent one to my
dad when he was sick. He called me up and said, 'you did this painting?'
I said 'yeah.'"
After the tour, our
guide Nathan Perry directed us to a reception room, where we watched
a video and heard from the artists themselves. One young man, Alex,
reflected the thoughts of many of the artists, saying "This company
[PRI] has been tremendously incredible."
Many of the artists
spoke of the desire to give back to the community. Richard, a self-described "old hippie," said he spends about two hours
a week doing art. He was quick to point out that painting is only one
of the many things he likes to do. He especially likes to do fundraising
for people "who are truly needy." Still, that two hours per week is
enough time for Richard to create some powerful-and highly sought after-artwork.
He was recently offered $600 for a painting. (He said, "No thanks.")
Munk remembers being
surprised at the results when PRI first offered artist training. "Many of these folks had no opportunity," he said, "and
when we did this for the first time--allowed them space and materials
to create art--we were totally blown away." Munk notes that visitors
to PRI have the same reaction and "are transformed" when they walk
through the door.
"Transformed" would
be a good way to describe the feeling a visitor gets after touring
three floors of Pattee Hall that are bursting with color, creativity,
and humanity.
In the stairwell was
a banner that summed up this body of artwork: "Art
is Genius." The same word would well describe a few other details behind
this art show: the artist training and creativity program of PRI, the
scheme that is spreading this joyful blooming of art in places throughout
the community, and the revolving art exhibit concept that has transformed
the hallways of Pattee Hall from a drab white to a vibrant, empowered "changing
landscape."
"Art means that I can be expressive and free," said
Dionne. "Not
always trapped. And it's just an extension of me." ![]()
The PRI exhibit
at the Institute on Community Integration will be on display
until April, and "Changing Landscapes" runs through
August 2008. Pattee Hall is located at 150 Pillsbury Drive SE,
Minneapolis, MN. For more information on the artists, or to
learn more about PRI, visit www.partnershipresources.org For
more information about "Changing Landscapes" visit http://ici.umn.edu/fyi/art or call Derek Nord, 612-624-0386, or Megan Dushin, 612-626-8649.
