By Terri Sterling

VSA of NJ, ThisAbled, and Artworks join hands to create the “Connect” art show, which provides visual artists with disabilities a place for their voice to be heard. Abstracts to landscapes can be found in paintings, mixed media, and photographs. The artists in this show are passionate about their art and spend up to a year or more perfecting each piece.

Vanessa Young, Director of VSA in NJ, stated: “We are thrilled that Artworks selected our "Connect" exhibition for its community gallery. Our artists are producing incredible work, and this exhibition truly captures its diversity. Artworks hosted a fantastic opening, and we look forward to exposing even more visitors to the work of artists with disabilities." Very Special Arts of NJ is dedicated to promoting the creative power of people with disabilities and provides statewide programs.

Javier Robles, President of ThisAbled, LLC, stated “that given the opportunity and the tools, people with disabilities are as creative, bold and exciting as any other artist’” I can’t say enough about the partnerships we created with VSA and Artworks, to feature these amazing artist, said Robles. ThisAbled is a news magazine dedicated to reporting disability issues on a local and national level.

“Artworks is terribly excited to have the Connect show in our brand-spanking-new Community Gallery!” Michael Gumpert, Artworks Executive Director, is hoping “this show inspires people from all walks of life to express themselves through art.” Artworks promotes diversity by fostering creativity, learning, and appreciation for the arts. It is located in Trenton, New Jersey.

Rafael Garcia, one of the artist, plans his painting carefully and takes up to a year or more to paint each painting. His images include geometric shapes that bring up memories for the viewer of fall leaves and the cycle of life. Rafael prefers to do “different types of work” because he “doesn’t want it to look all the same”. His second piece is his dream home. Like all of us he dreams of an independent life.

Jon Gabry, who has vision difficulties, “feels each object with one hand while he draws with the other”. This remarkable young man takes anywhere from fifteen minutes to five hours to carefully create his collage pieces and color pencil drawings. He hopes the viewer “will appreciate the feelings and emotions in all his art”. Jon’s collage piece shows several hands joining together, which reminds the viewer of the importance of relationships. Jon received a New Jersey Governor’s Award in Arts Education and a VSA arts of New Jersey Student Arts Excellence Award in Fine Arts.

Isabell Villacis abstracts consist of bold colors against a dark background, which makes each color pop. They remind her of a trip she took to Paris. She uses “improvisation” and the influences of Picasso to create her unique abstract paintings to communicate her voice to the world.

Exhibiting artists in this show include: Leigha Cohen, Jon Gabry, Vimala Gade, Rafel Garcia,Jean Malafront, Thomas Miller, Lois Monaghan, Kasey Tararuj, Michael Turner, and Isabell Villacis.

Artworks is located at 19 Everett Alley in Trenton. Gallery hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays 12-8 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and by appointment. For information and directions go to www.artworkstrenton.org or call 609-394-9436. For more information on VSA of New Jersey call (732) 745-3885. For more information on ThisAbled, please visit online at www.thisabled.com.