University of Idaho Visual Productions
Studio photography of art created by members of the community who are either disabled, elderly, or have a learning disability.
Art creates community, learning and just plain fun for Tawny Espy, of Moscow.
Works by Espy and 22 other artists will be displayed — and some of it will be for sale — during the annual artAbility Showcase from 5-7 p.m. Monday at the 1912 Center in Moscow.
The artAbility program, presented by the Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development, celebrates 10 years with this show, and Espy has participated in at least nine of those.
“I really enjoy all the pieces, all the art that we get to do with them every year,” she said.
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are artAbility’s primary focus, project coordinator Alena Ramkissoon explained. But the sessions are open for anybody to attend, and University of Idaho students, family and community members who don’t have disabilities often take part, too.
“We want to make these workshops as inclusive as possible,” said Ramkissoon, who is a UI student studying child development.
Participants created artwork for Monday’s showcase during a series of seven workshops between September and February, some led by artists from the community, including Moscow ceramist David Herbold, UI art professor Lauren McCleary and UI doctoral student Nick Koenig.
Contributed photo
From left to right: In the foreground are Kristin Miller; her mom, Melody Miller; workshop instructor David Herbold; Cory Fong; Emily Pearson, a student acting as natural support; and Johanna Flores. They are working with clay in a Feb. 11 workshop.
Espy noted Koenig’s session, during which participants made prints with tree rings, was a good example of how educational artmaking can be.
“That was a lot of fun, and we got to learn more about trees also, about how old a tree was from the rings,” she said.
Another favorite over the years, she said, has been learning from Native American artists.
“Every time, we’ve always had guests come in,” she said. “It’s fun, but they also teach us something.”
Most recently, Espy said, she created a work of clay art that serves as a memorial to her late service dog, Dakota, who was a regular at artAbility events.
“It was the last piece we did. We actually made that piece together,” Espy said. “He had his footprint on it and everything.”
The program has grown from five or six participants the first year to the nearly two dozen whose art will be part of this showcase.
“Every year it gets bigger,” Ramkissoon said.
Anyone who’d like to explore the benefits of making art should join in the workshops coming later this year, she said.
“Just do it for the experience,” she said. “It’s so freeing.”
More information is at idahocdhd.org/Projects/artAbilityAll.
Stone (she/her) can be reached at mstone@inland360.com.
IF YOU GO
artAbility Showcase
What: Artwork created by adults with developmental disabilities through a student-led Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development program, under the umbrella of the University of Idaho’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences.
When: 5-7 p.m. Monday, April 29.
Where: 1912 Center Great Room, 412 E. Third St., Moscow.
Cost: Free.
Of note: Some items will be for sale, by cash or check, with proceeds going to the artists.
