Creative Expressions bring joy to its artists
“The Music Therapy Gallery has been a vision since the renovations began for the Health Sciences Building,” said Dr. Chesley Mercado, chair of the Music Therapy Department. “I am excited that the Baldwin Life Enrichment Center agreed to be our premier exhibit.”
The Baldwin Life Enrichment Center, also known as “The Baldwin Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities,” is located in Milledgeville on North Jefferson Street. The organization seeks to “support and maximize the quality of life, the functional abilities and the physical well being of persons with mental retardation.”
The Life Enrichment Center’s “Creative Expressions Program” was implemented in 2000 with the assistance of the GCSU Music Therapy Department. It encourages creativity and self-expression for artists with developmental disabilities and has begun to work with Lockerly Arboretum and Central State Hospital. The program involves around 30 participants and around 25 GCSU Music Therapy majors each semester.
Caitlin Wilkerson, a senior music therapy major, works with the Life Enrichment Center participants through programs the Music Therapy Department offers, such as Chorus, Hand Bells, Sign Language or Drumming. She believes that the exhibition is great for GCSU and the individual artists.
“I love the exhibition! I get to see the participants at the Life Enrichment Center express themselves through music on a weekly basis, but this exhibit allows me to see them express themselves through art too,” Wilkerson said.
Walter Norman Jr. is an artist who contributed three separate works, each using different tools and conveying various themes. When creating “Bill Clinton on the 4th of July,” Norman used color pencil, whereas in “Mars” he used acrylics as well. Wilkerson said Norman’s “Old McDonald” piece is her favorite because it is just “so fun.” Dr. Mercado concurred as she said, “These artists’ work is so happy, colorful and expressive.”
Samantha Mandernacht, a sophomore creative writing major, enjoyed observing the artists creations, and claimed “The Island” by Rena Johnson captivated her.
“The artwork possesses a childlike simplicity,” said Mandernacht. “These artists see things differently than many people do, and it lends their creations an authenticity that is sometimes missing in art that is created for the sake of impressing viewers.”
Wilkerson believes that the Creative Expressions exhibit gives the artists a boost of self-confidence.
“When the artists get to present their work it gives them a sense of accomplishment,” said Wilkerson. “It’s a really big deal that they have a piece of their art. Now as the Creative Expressions exhibit remains available to GCSU students and faculty, the Music Therapy Department is already planning for future events. According to Dr. Mercado, the Music Therapy Department will host its first art competition, the Ed Mercado Arts Competition, for persons with developmental disabilities in August. They plan on allowing artists from all over Georgia to exhibit their work. May 1, the Chorus, Hand Bells, Drumming and Sign Language groups will perform at 7 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in Milledgeville.
“I am so impressed with the natural talent of these artists,” said Dr. Mercado. “They are artists first and any disability fades as viewers admire the colors, form and expression of the work. It is important for the public to realize that persons with disabilities have so much to give to the community. These artists share talent and diminish the stigma that sometimes follows anyone who is different. We are more alike than different- and this art is beautiful and must be shared with the world.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 17 2009. Filed under Features.
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