We’ve reminded our friends before and we’re excited to remind you again that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The theme of this year’s national campaign to raise awareness about disability employment issues (and celebrate the many contributions of America’s workers with disabilities!) is The Right Talent, Right Now.
We well know the artistic talents of our artists, but many of them also demonstrate other talents outside of the studio in a wide variety of jobs. Here’s just a few!
Iraqi Nkere works four times a week at Shoppers grocery store. He works as a Customer Service Clerk there, and says that he often returns and arranges items to shelves. (He’s been commended for his work multiple times, as discussed here on the blog.)
Louise Middleton runs his own photo restoration business from home:
“I scan the picture first, I would fix it on photoshop, then print it out as the new one.”
Gary Schmedes works at an office setting on Tuesdays and Fridays in Edgewater, MD. He’s often involved in shredding papers as part of a 3-4 hour shift:
“I need to do one thing at a time so I don’t get my fingers shredded.”
Dasha Kalumuck has been working at Lord & Taylor department store at the Columbia Mall for a little over two years. She works in customer service, ringing up purchases and attending to dressing rooms:
“I like how my bosses understand me and how nice they are.”
Make Studio is excited to bring back Cordially Invited, our annual invitational exhibition and a showcase of artists working at progressive art centers (aka art centers for people with disabilities) worldwide! This year’s celebration is bigger and better, as it’s part of our extended 10th anniversary celebration.
A couple of the Make Studio program artists selected their faves from this year’s show to highlight, as we prepare to open the show (in our gallery, online, and at eight pop-up venues in Baltimore) tomorrow.
I like how the merry-go-round has various creatures along with the usual horses, and appreciate the details of their features. I love the color palette, especially the purple clouds on the sky! The ocean view in the background reminds me of being on a beach and I am curious to know what this place is.
I’m a fan of Star Trek, and this work celebrates the 50th year of Star Trek in which it was created by the late Gene Roddenberry. It all started from 60’s, the first pilot “The Cage” and the second pilot “Where No Man Has Gone Before”. I think he did a good job on portraying the characters and it reminds me of cosplaying as Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise at Comic con and Art in the Round at American Visionary Art Museum.
Aimee and Jerry, along with the rest of the Make Studio artists, have their own artwork on display in the central Cordially Invited exhibition in our gallery, as well as at the pop-up venues.
You can follow along with all of the Cordially Invited II events here and here.
Emmy nominations were just announced, and it just so happens that artists Chuck and Iragi were recently recognized for their achievements, outside of Make Studio, by the Maryland Association of Community Services. They wanted to share their awards with us and with all of you!
Chuck
I won the Achievement Award from the Department of Disability Services. I won the award because I advocated for myself with living arrangements and self-care.
I plan on hanging my award at the ARC office where everyone can see it. It is always important to ask for what you want and do not be shy.
Iragi
I got the award in May. It is the Maryland Association of Community Service Award. I won for being an unstoppable worker at Shoppers, even McDonalds, Irvine Nature Center, Petco, and finally Maryland Public Television.
I clean and raise all the items. I enjoy my work and am still at Shoppers.
I was chosen by the organization for the award. I had never won an award before I got this one on May 23rd. It made me feel really happy to win.
Congratulations to Chuck, Iragi, and all the other award winners!
There’s been a lot of buzz in the studio lately about the new live action version of Disney’s Aladdin. That inspired movie talk among Wednesday artistsIragi,Seth, and Gary(who has previously created artwork related to the animated Aladdin).
Iragi: I give it a 10/10! I liked everything.
Gary: I saw this movie over the weekend and really liked it. I don’t think it is as good as the original cartoon movie but enjoyed it.
Genie’s Impersonations! by Gary Schmedes
Seth: I first saw the original version when I was 8 years old. I loved the movie and was looking forward to seeing the live action one and it was different from the original. Jasmine was a lot nicer about Aladdin making up lies instead of telling the truth about being a prince. Whether Aladdin is a prince or not – Jasmine cares about him more in the live action movie.
Gary: The plot was almost the same as the original but had a different twist. There was a new song called ‘Speechless’ sung by Jasmine that’s so powerful it gave me goosebumps. I enjoyed it as much as the Beast’s song ‘Evermore’ in the live action Beauty and the Beast.
Seth: I give the movie a 10/10. It was excellent and Will Smith did a superb job as the genie. I really liked when the genie controlled Aladdin to show him how to dance. I missed Robin Williams as the genie, but if Robin Williams was alive, he would be proud of Will Smith.
Gary: I watched the movie with my family, and they enjoyed it as well. Will Smith as the Genie is my favorite character in the movie. He doesn’t think he’s Robin Williams, but Smith did a great job! He even paid tribute to Robin in his social media account.
Iragi: The genie is my favorite. I liked Will Smith’s version in this movie more than Robin Williams in 1992. My favorite part is when Aladdin got the lamp.
Seth: My other favorite characters are the sultan, Jasmine, Aladdin, the genie, and Jafar (even though he was mean), Iago, the magic carpet, Abu, the cave of wonders, and the lamp.
Iragi: I like how Aladdin fell in love with Jasmine. I like the genie, Jafar, Jasmine, Abu, Iago, Sultan, Aladdin, and even Raja, Jasmine’s tiger.
Iragi: My new artwork is inspired by the movie. It is Will Smith and Robin Williams as the two genies from both movies together. My favorite song ‘You Ain’t Got a Friend Like Me’ is written at the bottom in the Aladdin font.
Robin Williams and Will Smith by Iragi NkereA Tribute to Robin Williams, Robert Guillaume, and David Ogden Stiers of Disneyby Gary Schmedes
Gary: My next movie plans include seeing Secret Life of Pets 2, Toy Story 4, the live action Lion King, and Frozen 2.
Due to a highly threatening weather forecast on the originally scheduled day ofPowerpoints & Pizza Pies, we moved this year’s installment ofPPT Nite (People Presenting Together)@ Make Studio to our reception for (Re)Shaping last month. We love partnering up with PPT Nite, because it offers our artists a great opportunity to hone their presentation skills and share their (sometimes surprising) personal interests!
Unfortunately several presenting artists and audience members (including Dasha, who previewed her presentation here) couldn’t make it on the new date, so — ICYMI — a sampling of the presenters have gamely shared their presentations with everyone. Enjoy!
For a few years now,Dashahas been making art with her original Coffee Bear characters. For the upcomingPower Points & Pizza Pies event, part of our celebration of #autismacceptancemonth, she’s introducing some new bears that are much more… “corporate”. And she plans to share their new adventures in the office (and beyond) with her PowerPoint presentation.
“I was inspired by humor for this new bear series. It’s so silly! Bears in the office!? I also had a lot of fun working in Word and PowerPoint to edit the images and add animations.”
So come see Dasha, and other Make Studio artists and friends, present their PowerPoints and enjoy some pizza on April 26th from 6:00-8:30pm! All are welcome!
About PPT Night:
PPT (People Presenting Together) Nite/Night (aka PowerPoint Night) is a performance presentation series hosted by Kay Fenton and Carolyn Shayte. PPT Night aims to increase the publicity of the PowerPoint, along with other slide presentation platforms, as a medium not just used in business and school for conveying information, but as an art and performance platform. PowerPoint itself is ubiquitous, user friendly and an instrument from which artists and non-artists alike can create. It is the limitations of the medium that allow artists and non-artists to experiment.
For more information on PPT Nite and past presentations, please see link below or message Carolyn/Kay: https://vimeo.com/153297706
Aspiring artists with disabilities, ages 16 and up, who are looking for suggestions about their art and future creative work are invited to bring their art for a FREE review with Make Studio staff and artists.
EVERYONE is invited to stick around, or show up at 1PM after the reviews, for a special prevention by autism and employment expert Zosia Zaks.
Gemma will be on of our artists who is present that day, so in advance of the event she’s provided a brief “review” (a walk-through) of her own body of artwork.
Queen Susan: The Gentle (in progress)
“Queen Susan is one of my favorite characters from Narnia. I am reflecting on her character and putting my own spin on it with color and design.”
Mother Nature
“I find nature to be very relaxing, so I wanted to make a piece about that. Mother Nature has on a crown because she is a queen. She is also holding flowers because I love flowers. She is standing in front of a mixture of sun and flowers.”
Jimi May
“I am a big fan of Jimi May and follow him on Instagram. I included his name on the artwork so everyone knows exactly who he is. I also designed the tattoos on him to give it my own spin.”
Happy
“This piece shows calm happiness. The colors are bright and happy, but the figure is more calm. She holds her hands together to honor herself.”
It’s been several weeks now since artist Clara returned from a brief leave-of-absence from the studio that included a trip of a lifetime to Africa! After gathering up a selection of her photos from the trip, she wanted to share some of that experience with her fans.
[I went to] South Africa and a little bit of the West. [I went with] my sister, my father, my stepmother.
[The weather was] really warm. You know, it’s funny, it is warm there, but the breeze was kinda chilly, It was really nice and warm, though.
The food was really good.I did a lot of walking, We saw the elephants, the elephants and the giraffes and the zebras… Also a hippo, and the real ugly ones, rhinos.
I really wanted to see a cheetah but we didn’t see one.
[Seeing penguins was] pretty awesome. If I go back I want to see an elephant or a cheetah more. The baby penguins are cute, and the adult ones. The seals were awesome, though. [My favorite animals were] the elephants mostly, and the giraffes and zebras. The ostriches are pretty but they kind of scare you.
Clara working on a newer piece featuring, you guessed it, elephants.
I’d rather spend more time in Africa, but I’d rather spend my life in South Carolina more, or Richmond.
Yes [I felt inspired by my trip]. Well, I did have a lot of fun.
Where does inspiration come from? How do artists influence each other? “Take a Look!: The Fandom of Make Studio” aims to make evident how artists connect to one another through a visual language. The exhibition features artworks by current and former Make Studio staff, volunteers, and interns alongside works by Make Studio artists that they’ve taken inspiration from.
The exhibition is open now through Tuesday, April 2, with a closing reception on Friday, March 29 from 6-9pm. The reception is free and open to the public, with live music by Bloomer and light refreshments.
(Below, a sample of the artwork in the show and statements from a few participating artists.)
Artwork by Emily Feinberg (volunteer and former intern), Louis Middleton, and Jules Hinmon.
Emily Feinberg
Since my art therapy internship at Make Studio, I have been inspired by visits to the Studio, as well as art updates on the Studio’s facebook page. I especially enjoyed seeing updates on Louis’s Supermarket Sweep sculpture series. When I entered the studio and at last experienced the sculptures in person, I was inspired by Louis’s attention to color, texture, and details in his larger-than-life sculptures. As I viewed the pieces, I felt transported to the set of Supermarket Sweep, a childhood favorite TV show. I was tickled by the thought of bringing a shopping cart to the gallery and quickly loading in all the gorgeous sculptures, as if I were a contestant in the show’s grocery shopping final competition. In response, I created a collage that expresses my fandom of Louis’s art. I also returned to a second unfinished Supermarket Sweep-themed collage that I had started a few months prior, which Louis’s series motivated me to get back to. On a side note, I’ve found myself drawing lots more feet since viewing Jules’s foot-centric creations!
Artwork by Sheba Sheikhai (former intern).
Sheba Sheikhai
My selected works explore a growing, integrative awareness that I developed through my time at Make Studio. I feel not only influenced by each of the artists’ unique creative processes, but by the very present and contemplative nature of the group as a whole. There was never a day in the studio that didn’t inspire me to pause and breathe into my senses and imagination. I experienced a way of being with others in true collaboration, support and friendship that allowed me to see myself, my world and my fantasies with more love and clarity. My pieces explore themes of whimsical and liminal safe space, sound and rhythm, and meditative reflection.
Artwork by Erin Barach (former staff member and Program Advisory Committee member) and Gemma Frost.
Erin Barach
I’ve worn a few hats at Make Studio, from volunteer to exhibitions associate, exhibiting artist and programming committee member – although my favorite role has been working as an occasional substitute. It’s the long gaps in between visits that make me realize what an amazing group of people make art here and how much influence they have on my practice. Walking into the studio is simultaneously familiar and unexpected. I never know what will be brewing! It’s a unique environment where everyone supports each other and honors their individuality. The artists at Make Studio are determined, curious and incredibly talented. I’m so grateful to be part of this community.
Artwork by Margie Smeller and Erin Barach.
Artwork by Bennie Krause (volunteer and former intern) and Clara Baker.
Artwork by Alex Albert and Tracy Weitkamp (volunteer and former intern).
Tracy Weitkamp
Having worked closely with Alex for two years as an intern at Make Studio, I couldn’t help but be influenced by his personality and his art! Working with Alex deepened my knowledge of the truth that art connects people – to themselves, to others, to experiences, to the world, to everything. Growth is a piece I created during my time working with Alex as an art therapy intern. He’d recently been working on a piece that had similar form with shapes raising in size from left to right. This visual of raising or growing stuck with me as it reflected what Alex was doing in his art, and what I was doing through my work with Alex. Art was helping us grow! In what I came to learn as true Alex fashion, I created my piece using mixed media, predominantly watercolor, oil pastel, and sharpie. These weren’t materials I would have previously combined but doing so was exciting and resulted in a bold and representational piece of my time with Alex and at Make Studio overall. It is a piece I am truly proud of!
Stop by the closing reception on Friday, or during daily gallery hours through next Tuesday, to see the rest of the exhibition and learn more about all of the artists!
Okay, not exactly here. But in less than 48 hours it will be!
We’ve had a great time sharing personal blog posts with you from the Make Studio artists over the past month.* If you missed a post, just head to the front page of faves saved and scroll down to quickly scan the most recent entries.
In light of all this anticipation that’s surely been built for our Cloud 9 Anniversary celebration, we know you’ll be joining us for a big slice of birthday cake and a hearty toast to all of our artists THIS SATURDAY!
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You’ll also have the opportunity to pick up our newest piece of Make Studio swag, commemorating the occasion! (See below.) Thank you to Jubilee Arts’ Youth in Business entrepreneurs for producing these colorful new totes for us.
*Unfortunately we have to end this Countdown series one day early, as inclement weather and other factors prevented getting a dispatch from everyone. (Stay tuned for future posts from additional studio and low residency artists, as well as art therapy clients, who wish to share more information about their art practices in the future.)
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