ARTIST STUDIO TALKS
On this page, I will profile the live talks that have taken place with staff from supported studios across the world
TALK ONE: This studio talk on Monday 30 November 2020 was to coincide with the first solo showcase of works by Miguel Ángel Hernando titled 'Hybrid Creatures', who works out of the Debajo del Sombrero Studio in Madrid, Spain. Jennifer chatted with the Artistic Director Luis Saez who answered in Spanish and Gorka translated into English. BSL was recorded as part of the discussion. It is one hour long. (NOTE: If you click on the 4 arrows next to the word vimeo it will make it full screen)
Staff members from Debajo del Sombrero talked about the supported studio, its history, how it works with intellectually disabled artists and a little about Miguel's practice in particular. This studio is just one of many studios across Europe that supports disabled artists.
TALK TWO: On Wednesday 6 January 2021, I was live in conversation with Sarah Galender Meyer, Gallery Director from Creative Growth in Oakland, CA, and Paige Wery, Gallery Director from Tierra del Sol in Los Angeles, CA. We heard how both venues support artists with disabilities working out of their studios, their history, their work to increase awareness of these artists regionally, nationally and internationally, and a little more about their selected artists in my online exhibition ‘Evolving Echoing Entities.’ You can check out the online exhibition HERE. The BSL interpretation was recorded onto the below video, and a transcript can be found in PDF format HERE and Word format HERE. Below on the video, if you click on the button with four arrows pointing outwards, it will make the video full screen, which may make it easier to watch.
Founded in 1974, Creative Growth is a leader in the field of arts and disabilities, establishing a model for a creative community guided by the principle that art is fundamental to human expression and that all people are entitled to its tools of communication. Creative Growth Art Center is a non-profit based in Oakland, California that serves artists with disabilities by providing a professional studio environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition, and representation.
Tierra del Sol Foundation is a not for profit founded in 1971, empowering people with developmental disabilities through Workforce Development, College to Career and Careers in the Arts. Tierra del Sol Gallery is part of the Tierra del Sol Foundation, focusing on showing works created by artists in Tierra del Sol’s progressive studios.
TALK THREE: On Wednesday 27 January 2021 Jennifer Gilbert of the Jennifer Lauren Gallery was in conversation with Sheryll Catto, Co-Director of ActionSpace in London, and Morven Macrae, Art Studio Leader and Exhibitions Coordinator from Garvald Edinburgh. We heard how both venues support learning disabled artists in their local areas, their history, their work to increase awareness of these artists, and a little more about their selected artists in Jennifer’s online exhibition ‘Evolving Echoing Entities.’ You can check out the online exhibition HERE. The BSL interpretation was recorded onto the below video, and a transcript can be found in PDF format HERE and Word format HERE. Below on the video, if you click on the button with four arrows pointing outwards, it will make the video full screen, which may make it easier to watch.
ActionSpace is London’s leading development agency for artists with learning disabilities. They are an exceptional visual arts organisation with big ambitions for all the artists that they work with. They support, advocate and promote diversity within the contemporary visual arts sector. All of their work is focused towards enabling artists with learning disabilities to have a professional career in the arts.
Garvald Edinburgh has provided creative workshops for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism since 1969. The organisation currently enables 250 individuals to develop their art, craft and catering skills through working as part of a creative making-based community. The Garvald Artists studio is one of 21 workshops based across five sites in Edinburgh and Midlothian. Others include pottery, weaving, textiles, woodwork, glass and jewellery making. In addition to running their own exhibitions programme, they aim to broaden opportunities for their artists through working with a range of local, national and international organisations, to ensure learning-disabled artists become an integral part of the creative landscape.