Culture, arts, and even prejudice transcend racial, religious, or ethnic lines. The developmentally disabled also face challenges, obstacles, and ignorance, but an upcoming Bloomington exhibition will help differently abled artists make their cultural mark on the Twin Cities.
The Marc Making exhibition at the Jan Brandt Gallery, 1106 East Bell St., opens with a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. January 24. Proceeds from the exhibition will benefit artists with developmental disabilities.
Marcfirst was started in 1955 by a group of families of children with disabilities in order to provide support to each other and to their children during a period in American history when children with disabilities were often excluded from the public school system. On November 18, 1955, the original non-profit corporation was incorporated as the McLean County Association for Mentally Retarded Children, which was later changed to Marc Center in 1980 and to Marcfirst in 2007.
Marcfirst has created Marc Making to offer a creative self-employment opportunity to artists making work with developmental disabilities. Marc Making 'goes beyond making great artwork as a means of self-expression by giving artists the additional support to explore ways to be involved in our local fine arts community and to generate income from their work."
The Jan Brandt Gallery
According to Marcfirst, "it has been shown that participating in art activities increases an individual's self-esteem by allowing for expression, peer recognition, and creative thinking. It also offers additional occupational, cognitive and emotional goals to a wide range of skill sets and disabilities. The Marc Making program encourages individuals with disabilities to create and learn about art while learning how to run a business."
Proceeds from purchased artworks go directly to artists with developmental disabilities and the Marc Making program. The program also can use pre-stretched canvases, drawing pads, drawing paper, acrylic paint, brushes, pencils, pens, and most other art supplies. Any instructional books or videos demonstrating techniques also are useful.
Also crucial are individuals affiliated with an accessible art studio, gallery, university program, or museum that can invite artists to tour and learn more about the business side of being a self-employed artist. Art students or professional artists can donate a few hours to teach prospective artists.
Initial funding for the program was made possible from the Bloomington Normal Daybreak Rotary.
For information, call (309) 451-8888 or (309) 451-8888, ext.258.