How One Bay Area Studio Is Creating Careers For Artists With Disabilities

Every year, more than 15,000 people find their way into a gallery on 16th Street in San Francisco’s Mission District. But they’re not here to see a Monet or a Picasso. In fact, the artists they’re here to see aren’t famous at all – yet.

The artists in this gallery share two things in common: They all have an interest in making art, and they all have a developmental disability.

Since 1983, Creativity Explored has been helping developmentally disabled artists explore their skills in art through one-on-one instruction. The nonprofit provides artists with studio space, supplies and even professional opportunities to exhibit their work.

CE was founded in part thanks to the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act, an act passed in California in 1969 that defines the rights of people with developmental disabilities. The act also established a service system to meet the needs of developmentally disabled people. Florence Ludins-Katz and Elias Katz founded CE with the belief that all people have the ability to create and that art is key to identity and personal growth, regardless of a person’s disability.

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The Artists

About 130 artists between the ages of 20 and 82 work in CE’s two studios. These artists are diverse both in cultural and ethnic backgrounds as well as in their abilities and experiences with art. In addition to developmental disabilities, many of the artists also experience other disabilities such as mental illness, emotional disturbances and/or physical disabilities.

Many of the artists use the studio as a place to express themselves and continue to explore their own art. “When I make art, it makes me feel good because it's just right,” says CE artist Yolanda Ramirez.

While the studio does aim to help the artists simply express themselves through art, one key focus for CE is to also help these artists create a viable income from their art. “When people buy my art, I can buy more stuff,” says CE artist Merna Lum.

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The Instructors

About 20 professional artists mentor the studio artists, inspiring them and facilitating the art-making process. CE also employs a support staff that includes volunteers and interns.

The instructors aren’t the only teachers in the studio, though. Working with the studio artists of CE can be inspiring and has affected the work of several instructors over the years.

“CE inspired me to experiment more," said artist and CE visual arts instructor Veronica Graham. "Before I worked here, I was not exposed to the variety of mediums that the artists used. CE influences my art practice to constantly try and find new technical ways of creating.”

Assistant studio manager and visual arts instructor Eric Larson agrees. “The artists of CE influence me to use lots of different materials, ideas and experimentation. I am constantly being opened to new things.”

The inspiration doesn’t just come from the medium or materials. Artist and visual arts instructor Horace Washington says it has even changed his artistic process: "CE has had a huge influence on me since I started working here 25 years ago. Most artists sit down and plan out their work. Here I have learned to make spontaneously.”

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The Gallery and Studios

CE has expanded to two locations: the main gallery and studio on 16th Street in San Francisco’s Mission District and a second studio in nearby Potrero Hill. The exhibits rotate several times a year, offering several artists the opportunity to display their art.

The gallery recently hosted an opening reception for CE studio artist Lance Rivers, whose exhibition was titled Lance-Scape Architecture. A Bay Area native, Rivers dedicated the exhibit to his 50th birthday. The exhibit explores the changing architecture of the city — transportation, tunnels, cityscapes, etc. — through several media, including watercolors and sculptures.

This isn't Rivers' first time exhibiting his work. Through CE, his artwork has been exhibited everywhere from spaces in the Bay Area to Michigan and even countries as far away as Ireland and Australia. This is just one example of the many opportunities that CE provides its studio artists.

The exhibit gives artists not just publicity but also a chance to connect with the community. At his opening reception, Rivers showed his appreciation for that connection: “Everyone’s been so nice to me, and so good to me. I really like that. I respect everybody, and everybody respects me. I appreciate everybody coming tonight and that they enjoy and appreciate my work; I like that.”

Rivers isn’t the only artist who sees the gallery as a vital connection between them and the community. "We are part of the city, part of the community. People walk by our gallery and they see what's in the windows like at a shopping mall, and they come in. If we didn't have the gallery, people wouldn't know that we're part of the city," says CE studio artist Peter Cordova.

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Licensing the Art

The artists’ work reaches far beyond the gallery walls. CE developed a licensing division so the art can be used for products like corporate calendars, greeting cards, CD covers, textiles, T-shirts, tote bags, pillows, rugs and skateboards. Among the companies who license these products are well-knowns like CB2 and fashion house COMME des GARÇONS. Several items can also be purchased online through CE's shop.

Licensing isn’t just a way to make the artists’ work more visible. Licensing also helps CE operate the nonprofit, with about 10 percent of its income generated from the sale of original art and art products.

Of course, the artists are thrilled to see the public enjoying the artists’ work in the community, whether it’s on a calendar, in the gallery or just in the studio.

CE studio artist Gerald Wiggins puts it best: "It's all of us together. Us artists and the public. We all like art, and we're learning new things, and we keep growing."