I was fascinated by the article that described the Creative Growth Art Center, in existence since 1974. Its purpose is to give people with severe physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to develop as artists. And now, 30 years later, it seems that many of the center’s artists have indeed become mainstream.

The artists here are all adults with disabilities, mostly developmental disabilities such as autism or Downs Syndrome, but others have physical or psychiatric disorders as well. When the center was founded 30 years ago, most of these artists had come from institutions, but now more have been raised in their homes and communities. It was exciting to learn that one of the drawings by an artist named Daniel Miller was recently purchased by New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Miller, who is autistic and doesn’t speak except for occasional one to two-word bursts.

Undoubtedly the most fascinating artist of the Creative Growth Art Center is the late Judith Scott, who had Downs Syndrome in addition to being deaf and mute. She created various sculptures by twisting and weaving fibers and string. Her obsessive passion for doing this activity, which no one could communicate with her about, has resulted in several sculptures, and work that was recently displayed along side other contemporary artists at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

The Center’s focus has been on providing a real art studio for these individuals and tirelessly promoting the acceptance of their work as more than “outsider” art.

I couldn’t help but think of LuLu as I read this article. Her one true relaxation activity is art. She approaches it, as she approaches everything else in life, with an intense obsession. And very often her art sessions end in cussing outbursts and frustrations that she’s not perfect. Yet, she tries again and again to hone her skills. All this without any type of formal training.

Her work is full of minute details, carefully drawn hands, facial features, wrinkles. It also portrays many of her trouble thoughts. For years it was filled with prisons, hospitals, children being restrained. But now it’s much more about her latest obsession – right now, it’s gorillas (after watching Mighty Joe Young and becoming hooked on the movie).

There are hundreds of art classes/art therapy opportunities for special needs children. The thing that caught my eye about the Creative Growth Art Center is its vision to “mainstream” these artists with all other contemporary artists and to give them actual careers.

Art therapy, on the other hand, is aimed directly at providing a therapeutic outlet for children and adults with special needs, often including those from adoption and foster care backgrounds. Art therapists are specially educated in both art and psychology.

Interested in art therapy? Check out these resources:

American Art Therapy Association

Art Therapy Connection – a not-for-profit organization in Chicago

Art Therapist Career

Art Therapy Credentials Board

Artwork credit: Two drawings by LuLu done this week. The first is obviously a gorilla. The second depicts the hand of a mom stopping the spider from biting the African baby.

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