Medical center program offers artistic outlet for those with disabilities
By Stephen Finn
The Sun
“Can people with disabilities create fine art?” This question was asked by medical director of Matheny Medical and Educational Center Dr. Gabor Barabas and his wife SuzAnne back in 1993.
According to Heather Williams, performing arts coordinator at Matheny, “the answer was ‘yes.’”
Matheny has served children and adults with special needs and medically complex developmental disabilities since its inception in 1946. This year it is celebrating 25 years of the Arts Access program.
The mission of Arts Access is “to provide individuals with disabilities the freedom to create in the visual, literary and performing arts.” Students in the program are paired with a professional artist facilitator for whatever their chosen field may be.
Sessions consist of the facilitator asking choice-based questions throughout every step of the process to create works of art that belong entirely to their client. Facilitators are required to maintain a sense of neutrality throughout the creative process. Based on the needs of the client they use many different methods of communication, like nonverbal communication boards.
“We treat the client as an artist, they know they have complete freedom in the process. Each paint stroke or movement is a choice of the artists,” said Williams. “We have no preconceptions of what a person is capable of. The minute we (facilitators) step into the process the process becomes someone else’s.”
One such artist was Kevin White, son of Palmyra resident Phyllis White. Kevin passed away last June but left behind an impressive portfolio of work he completed through the Arts Access program. His favorite mediums included paint, digital art and sculpture.
His art has appeared in a number of exhibitions, including showings at The Atrium Gallery in Morristown, Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, and the Monmouth Museum in Lincroft.
When Phyllis first visited Matheny, she knew it was the right place for her son.
“I went up and looked at it and I saw the kids there doing things that I never thought they would be able to do,” said Phyllis. “(Kevin) loved the Arts Access program. I think it gave him the freedom to interpret his art and to get out some of his inner thoughts.”
Phyllis wears a colorful scarf based on one of her son’s pieces. Kevin’s art often features bright colors and interesting shapes. He was at Matheny when the Arts Access program began and started making art around the same time.
“Kevin in person always dressed in dark colors but his work was very bright,” said Williams.
“He was one of those people who identify themselves as an artist, and that fueled him and gave him purpose.”
Arts Access opened a new world for Kevin, and his mother saw a side of him she never thought she would.
“It made me feel good that he could do something that I never expected him to do. When I saw some of his paintings I was totally amazed,” said Phyllis.
Many of the students and residents at Matheny have had a similar experience to Kevin’s with Arts Access. It gives them an opportunity to express themselves in a way they couldn’t before they started making art.
“(Residents) are told when to wake up, when to eat breakfast and when to get dressed. This is the one time they have complete freedom and autonomy. For some artists, they have truly brilliant minds that are trapped in less than brilliant bodies,” said Williams.
More of Kevin’s art will be featured at Matheny’s annual Full Circle event on Saturday, Nov. 3. This is held each year to give artists a chance to display their works of visual or performance art.
“It’s like the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys wrapped up into one. It’s a really exciting program,” said Williams.
To learn more about Arts Access and the upcoming Full Circle event, visit artsaccessprogram.org.
