Developing artists Developing artists (February 01, 2002)

From art book to art exhibit one local painter gives adults with disabilities a chance to express themselves

By Amy Goodpaster Strebe

From simple stick figures to abstract expressionism, "How to Ride the Bus" isn't your average art exhibition. Created by 10 developmentally disabled adults, the 19 pieces in the show represent six months of work inspired by a page booklet by the same name coordinated by Palo Alto artist Judy Gittelsohn.

Opening Feb. 1 in Mountain View at the Dana Street Roasting Company, the exhibit, through Gittelsohn's guidance, has given these men and women a vehicle for self-expression.

"I was overwhelmed by their desire to paint," said Gittelsohn. "A lot of them couldn't even hold a paintbrush in their hand. These people were so much fun to be with, and their artwork is beautiful."

Gittelsohn said the project began with a $10,000 grant last March from Arts Council Silicon Valley and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to create a book entitled "How to Ride the Bus: A Perspective," and a total of 1,000 copies were printed.

Gittelsohn hopes to continue the series of occupational handbooks. "My ultimate goal is to open up an art center here on the Peninsula for people with developmental disabilities," she said.

The idea for the book grew out of an experience Gittelsohn had working on a collaborative public art mural at Creativity Explored II, an art center in San Francisco, with disabled artist Michael Loggins. From working alongside Loggins, Gittelsohn began to realize the benefits of painting for the disabled.

"All of a sudden they have a voice, perhaps for the first time," she said. "It's like when you learn a foreign language and you can now communicate with someone who shares that language," Gittelsohn said. "Art is a language that these people can communicate to the world. To be able to offer someone an avenue to express themselves is amazing. It's what life's about."

The organization that brought Gittelsohn together with the artists is the Community Association for Rehabilitation, which supports and promotes the achievements of people with developmental disabilities, helping them to be valued members of the community.

According to Gittelsohn, the artists present a variety of styles in their work. While creating the titles for their paintings, one artist, Gittelsohn said, whose vocabulary consists of 10 words, named his painting "Ohio," a word he says frequently.

"I decided to focus the project on the idea of a bus because it was something that they all had in common," Gittelsohn said. "I asked myself what was common in their day, and since many of them are wheelchair-bound, the bus serves an important purpose in their lives."

Gittelsohn said that because many developmentally disabled adults are unable to hold a job, they are often placed in the roles of consumers rather than producers. "Their artwork is something that they can put back into the world, and it's a big reward for everyone," she said. "This project has been tremendously rewarding for me. And the artists are really looking forward to the opening this Saturday."

"How to Ride the Bus" will open Feb. 1 and continue through Feb. 28 at the Dana Street Roasting Company at 744 W. Dana St. in Mountain View. On March 1 the show will move up north to Palo Alto City Hall through March 29. On Feb. 2 a reception and book signing by the artists will be held at Dana Street Roasting Company at 2 p.m.