Feature Articles


November Issue 2001

Charlotte Art League in Charlotte, NC, Presents Exhibition of Works by Challenged Artists

Can you recal the first time you went to a friends first art show. Possibly your own? Remember what that felt like? The pride, the joy, the congratulations? Well this is a first time show for most of the exhibitors in this show. Not only is it their first show but the people involved have all had particular challenges. Some have been homeless, others are physically challenged, others are in a prison program. Others have Alzheimers.

The show, OUTREACH: Pure Positive/GOOD ART, featuring works of art created by a selected population of artists, will be on exhibit at the Charlotte Art League Gallery on Camden Street in Charlotte, NC's, South End, through Nov. 8, 2001.

This project is a collaboration of WomenFIRST, the Charlotte Art League and Kim Stimpson's GOOD ART classes, made possible in part by a grant from the Community Cultural Connections Program of the Arts & Science Council-Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Inc. and the Grassroots Grant Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency.

WomenFIRST and the Charlotte Art League collaborated on the grant to provide Kim Stimpson's "GOOD ART Classes" to the following underserved populations: YWCA's Women in Transition Program (women
of limited means who are in transition and who are motivated to improve their life situation), Fairmarket Plaza Apartments (low income and disabled seniors citizen), CASCADE (Courage and Support for Changing Attitudes, Dependencies and Environments, helping women who are pregnant or with children and chemically
dependant, providing treatment and support), ECO (Energy Committed to Offenders, provides services to inmates, ex-offenders and their families), and Charlottetown Manor (Independent living community for disabled adults).

In a positive environment, using art as a tool, the programs goals have been to give these populations a new sense of empowerment and accomplishment, encourage self-discovery and self-acceptance, provide a creative outlet, utilize eye-hand coordination and motor skills, as well as provide fun, healthy, social interaction. The program focuses on the process rather than the product, and although most of the participants have rarely painted, the resulting
paintings (to be seen at this exhibit) are wonderful, creative, energetic expression of self and life.

This project is about people - about people caring about themselves and each other. The entire process of this collaborative effort is evidence of the truth of that. That is another story to be told.

For more information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings or contact the Charlotte Art League at 704/376-2787 between the hours of 11am and 3pm Thur., Fri. or Sat.

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