Category Archives: Art Ability

DoN Brewer, Abstract Photography

Art Ability, A Celebration of Artists with Disabilities at The Philadelphia Foundation Community Art Gallery

Urban Jungle, DoN Brewer, digital photograph at Art Ability, A Celebration of Artists with Disabilities at The Philadelphia Foundation Community Art Gallery

Art Ability, A Celebration of Artists with Disabilities at The Philadelphia Foundation Community Art Gallery

Art Ability at the Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Paoli has an annual art extravaganza featuring the art work of artists with disabilities. Dr. Susanna Saunders and the Art Ability committee has been very kind to DoN over the past years including his work in their annual art show, showcasing his photography in the BMRH gift shop and even loaning works to The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Now, through their efforts an Art Ability exhibition will be on public display at The Philadelphia Foundation Community Art Gallery, the 37th show since 2000 and will run throughout the Summer of 2012. The gala reception is Friday, May 4th.

The featured artists in the show have physical and neurological disorders including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke and other conditions including blindness and deafness. DoN struggles with a chronic auto-immune disorder called Crohn’s disease, so when you see him at your art events and comment on how skinny he is, that’s why. Wallace Simpson said, “You can never be too rich or too thin.” It’s a matter of perspective; DoN’s life is rich with friends and culture but also feels like the incredible shrinking man.

Gratefully, DoN‘s disability is manageable with new medicines but many of his Art Ability friends have been dealt a difficult hand. That’s where the healing power of art comes into play; engrossing oneself in the act of making art enables the artist to transcend the physical limitations and express to the world how injury, pain and disorder can be compensated artistically. Art is a beautiful solution to a deeply confounding problem.

Art Ability, A Celebration of Artists with Disabilities at The Philadelphia Foundation Community Art Gallery

Read more of DoN‘s reports about Art Ability:

DoN Brewer, Three Group Art Shows

Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Fine Art and Crafts @ Bryn Mawr Rehab – Mixed Media Art

Thoughtful Frog, Sheryl Yeager at Art Ability International Juried Art Exhibition

Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Fine Art and Crafts @ Bryn Mawr Rehab, Malvern PA

Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Fine Art and Crafts @ Bryn Mawr Rehab, Malvern PA in Side Arts Philadelphia Art Blog

Written by DoN Brewer

Keyword: Philadelphia Art

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Laurentiu Todie, The One @ Art Ability Bryn Mawr Rehab Center, Malvern, PA.

DoNArTNeWs finally appears on page one in Google for the search term “Philadelphia art blogs“, thank you very much! DoN has written more than four hundred reviews, interviews and promotions about the Philadelphia regional art scene for DoNArTNeWs. The most frequently accessed pages include the term “Philadelphia art” in the web site statistics, “art” is the number one search term. Philadelphia art is a search term that thousands of people are investigating because the Philly art scene is, as Mayor Michael Nutter stated at the West Collects press conference, “Strong!” Great art has become synonymous with Philadelphia because of the high end cultural institutions like PMA and the innovative neighborhood artist enclaves, clubs, alliances and collectives that pervade the city and the region, creating an amorphous idea of what is Philadelphia art? Is it the great art speak that PAFA teaches it’s students? Is it the gritty allure of Fishtown, Northern Liberties or Germantown and the satisfaction of getting in early on something bohemian, eclectic, outrageous or controversial? Is Philadelphia really the sixth borough of NYC?

Art is strong and vibrant in Philadelphia with wonderful resources but DoN has heard institutional leaders say the majority of public dollars get directed to the top tier while smaller groups compete for shrinking grant money and must endure its grueling paperwork. Rachel Zimmerman of InLiquid, one of the oldest artist profile websites of its kind in Philadelphia, told DoN this past Summer that artists have three jobs: making art, selling art and the job to pay for buying art materials. Artist Gregory Prestegord told DoN there are more like seven jobs to get to what he calls “a state of meditation“, the time he actually gets to spend making art, a broad circle of activities, many unrelated to art production, must happen to get to the moment of meditation when art appears out of seemingly nowhere. Art and the creative economy is enormous in Philadelphia, the competition for money is daunting, yet artists keep pushing against the obstacles and work hard to be known as a Philadelphia Artist, the second most popular search term for DoNArTNeWs‘ Philadelphia art blog.

Search Philadelphia art, who knows what you might discover?

Happy New Year!

LoVe

DoN

Read more about Art Ability at Philly.SideArts art blog and DoNArTNeWs art blog.

Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Art & Fine Craft @ Bryn Mawr Rehab Center – Mixed Media Art

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Beverly Kohn, Resting Deer, Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Art & Fine Craft @ Bryn Mawr Rehab Center.

Beverly Kohn won Honorable Mention in the category of Fiber Arts, Glass and Fine Crafts at the Art Ability Exhibition. The gorgeous piece of a fiber wrapped deer feels so modern, like Jeff Koons or DuChamp, not crafty at all but using simple, nostalgic materials and shapes, the sculpture mixes media in a delightful and desirable design. Click the thumbnail for a close up.

Elizabeth Core at Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Art & Fine Craft @ Bryn Mawr Rehab Center. The balance of color, hue, tone and textures mingled with sophisticated pattern and composition is exuberantly engaging.

Click the thumbail to check out Sriharsha Sukla, Bombay 01, collage. The artist lives in Cuttack, Orissa, India, and has been a part of Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Art & Fine Craft @ Bryn Mawr Rehab Center for many years, submitting fascinatingly detailed collages, so painterly and naturalistic they appear photographic from a distance.

“The Art Ability Program at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital is a year-long program which serves as a showcase for, and celebration of, artists with disabilities. Through art, we hope to inspire patients to reach beyond their limitations, and to encourage people with disabilities to explore their own creativity.

Established in 1996, Art Ability includes the following major components: an annual international juried exhibition and sale of art and fine crafts produced by individuals with disabilities; community outreach and education opportunities including satellite exhibitions and interactive demo days; our permanent collection of artwork and the incorporation of artwork into the patient experience; and a corporate art acquisition program.

The Programs goal is to foster a better appreciation of people with disabilities through the achievements and stories of our artists. As art enriches their lives, we hope their creativity, talent and exuberant spirit will enrich your life.” – Art Ability

Read DoNArTNeWs report about Allen Bryan, Art Ability Artist

Thoughtful Frog, Sheryl Yeager at Art Ability International Juried Art Exhibition

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Thoughtful Frog, Sheryl Yeager, pastel on paper.

Sheryl Yeager won First Prize for Works on Paper, an award in memory of Jaqueline Van Handel, presented by Jeanne B. Fisher at the Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Art and Fine Craft made by people living with disabilities. Even though Sheryl usually shows her work in western Pennsylvania, three years in a row Sheryl and DoN have met up at the Patron’s Reception, a swanky event with fine food and wines for collectors, supporters and artists.

“I guess they like frogs?“, Sheryl said to DoN, commenting on the top award she received for her enchanting pastel drawing of an amphibian. Sheryl Yeager develops strong color fields which resonate pleasantly, the strong shapes and descriptive drawing evoke the wonder of finding a frog on a sunny pond, a happy sensation. Creating a good pastel is not easy but to rise above the competition in a crowded field of gorgeous contenders, presentation is key, Sheryl’s balanced mat and contemporary framing present the art beautifully. The genuine good vibes emanating from the image may have had a touch of magic for the judges, too. Sheryl tipped off DoN that she is producing a line of greeting cards featuring her animal art. Sheryl Yeager states in the impressive catalog Art Ability produced that, “She loves the texture of pastels and the artistic control she gains from it. She enjoys drawing animals because it makes her feel free and one with nature.” That’s what Thoughtful Frog made DoN feel like, too – at one with nature.

Art Ability is in the Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Malvern Pa, there are hundreds of artworks created by people living with disabilities on display, the center is warm and welcoming – it’s a rehab center, they’re very friendly – and is free and open to the public daily. Supporting the efforts of the Art Ability team by buying artwork benefits not just artists like Sheryl Yeager but yourself; being present in a place of healing, sharing smiles and seeing art from the perspective of artists facing persistent challenges is life affirming. Art makes a great gift.

Photographs by DoN Brewer shot exclusively with

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