Creativity Explored visits Zeum

"Through art, many find voice for the first time. The work they create is uncensored, fearless, innovative and fresh."
- quote from creativity explored brochure

My first day back at Zeum after a long list of leave requests met me with the opportunity to hear about Creativity Explored. Catherine, a friend of Mathew, came in this morning to speak about a local bay area organization, Creativity Explored, a program that works with mentally disabled adults, helping them create art. The pictures you see are from their website: www.creativityexplored.org.

She began by describing the various disabilities many of the artists have, ranging from autism to down syndrome and their ability to create amazing art with their different physical and mental obstacles. Catherine then walked us through various pieces of art and how they came to be, describing the artists and their specific stories. She explained that each artist had their own unique style and most used the repetitive colors and shapes throughout their pieces. I remembered thinking that if i had seen these in an art gallery i would have never thought that the artists had disabilities. They were that good.

Mathew then brought up the issue of communicating with people who have different needs. How do you communicate with someone who can't talk? I thought about it more and more, how could this possibly work. I related this to life at Zeum. Children come in all the time too shy to attempt anything. Some kids just need a little inspiration, others an example or two, and some kids would rather you walk them step by step. Making it simple, is the way I usually handle the oh so common "I'm not good at singing" or "I can't make that" or "How come my character didn't come out like that" pointing to the collection of infamous Miguel clay characters.

I admit i feel the same way as these children do, I limit my creativity ability based on my past experiences with art. There was always someone who had a more popular collage in the fourth grade or a more impressing combination of similies and metaphors in my seventh grade poetry exhibition. Catherine brought up a good observation, many of these artists are so talented and unique because they aren't affected by others. They create art without questioning themselves because they don't worry about the times or the latests trends.

I was inspired.