Arts of Life - Artist Spotlight
Opened in 2000, Arts of Life was the first program in Chicago to provide meaningful vocational opportunities in the arts for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The studio serves as both an alternative day program and creative epicenter for its artists. A second location was opened in Glenview in 2010 at the request of North Shore families seeking similar revolutionary programming. Today the two studios support over 60 artists in their creative practices and professional development. Driven by our Four Core Values, every artist works with the studio team to create individualized, professional development goals to advance their creative practice. Inspiring Artistic Expression, Building Community, Promoting Self-Respect, and Developing Independence. In addition to their art-making practices, each studio boasts a band – The Arts of Life Band and Van Go Go – which perform at venues across Chicago-land.
Below you will find an introduction by Arts of Life volunteer Cindy Shanker, and written and visual works by members of her poetry group.
Arts of Life is a wonderful collaborative community for artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities providing a supportive and uplifting environment in which to further their art practice and strengthen their leadership. I began volunteering here in 2012 and have enjoyed it immensely. It is equally enriching and inspiring for me, as it is for the artists. I assist the artists with their work, offering techniques, ideas and physical assistance when needed. A couple of years after I started, we began an Art Talk group, which consisted of art history, principles of art and group critiques.
A few years later, I noticed some of the artists dabbling with words in their artwork and thought about combining the two realms of language and visual art. At the end of 2017, I started the Poetry Group so that our artists could have an additional way to express themselves and honor their creative practices. I had no idea how successful it would be.
It has been a wonderful journey with the artists. We gather weekly to write poems inspired by their drawings and paintings. Sometimes we have good focus and sometimes not, but we always laugh and enjoy the collaboration. The pandemic has added new challenges to this process. Presently we meet and write on Zoom, which has its benefits and its inherent limitations. The silver lining is that we are collaborating with The Chicago Studio, and have had the pleasure of several new artists joining our group. So far we have completed three printed collections of poems featuring the poem next to the accompanying piece of visual art work. Here we are sharing a small collection of poems recently created collaboratively by our artists at Arts of Life.
~ Cindy Shanker
You can purchase books of poetry and other artworks in the Arts of Life Shop, or make a donation to support the organization here.
Painting by Andrew Sloan
Three Strikes and You’re Out
Batter up
All star game
Sliding into first
Error leads to unearned runs
Bases Loaded
America’s favorite pastime
Line drive to the left fielder
Long fly ball, going going, gone.
Grand slam
Awesome day for a ball game
Manager plots pitching change
Entertainment for the whole family.
***
Painting by Chris Viau
Northern Lights in Sky
Darkness is looming.
Green shooting across the sky.
Light glows like neon.
Bright stars shining all around.
Purple light early glory.
***
Painting by Alysha Kostelny
Stuck Inside
Surrounded by green walls.
Three yellow flowers in a red vase.
Oreo Cookies ready to dip into milk.
Can’t go outside on this sunny day
Sitting on the red carpet,
looking out the window.
Wanting a BBQ, to play ball, or go on a swing.
Stuck in this green room, watching TV,
Listening to crickets
And hoping not to hear sirens.
***
Painting by Nikole Heusman
A Mother’s Love
Cruella Deville was a wealthy and evil witch;
the scowl on her face could make you twitch.
In the interest of fashion, she dyed her hair black and white;
to scare the puppies in the middle of the night.
Cruella can’t tell the difference between evil and good;
plotted to make a fur coat out of the puppies if she could.
Mama Dalmatian was protective and loyal;
to see her puppies hurt made her blood boil.
***
Unconventional Pasta
Once there was a chef named Hector
He cooked noodles like sweet nectar
We all love pasta, good for the heart
When you twirl it; it’s like a piece of art
Meatballs are so hot and spicy,
Need to cool my mouth with a purple icee
Extra great love with parmesan cheese
When I tried to eat it, it makes me sneeze
While tackling slurping noodles, one went up my nose
Don't drop the chicken and onion rings on my exposed toes!
Painting by Hector Jones
***
Painting by Cole Fox
Dirty Dirty Dog
There once was a dog named Chili
That dog was often quite silly
He rolled in the mud
My silly best bud
Dang, that water is chilly!
That silly dog made such a mess
He needed a bath, G-D bless
The water was hot
He was splashing a lot
Then he looked happier, I guess.