The latest exhibit in the gallery of the Barrington Area Arts Council offers a variety of work, viewed in pairs: one created by the artist, and the other, by the artist’s mentor.
A first-time exhibit, “Objects Are Closer Than They Appear” portrays the relationship and exchange of ideas between artists with developmental disabilities at Little City in Palatine, and professional artists with whom they have been paired.
In one display, rows of sugar cubes with painted letters bear the message: “We love everybody because it’s nice to have friends.”
The series of cubed sentences also spell out political thoughts: “Is Al Gore going to be our next regular president or President Bush’s son. … If I was the next president, I’d make sure everything got done right away, probably.”
In another display, sentences are constructed from small cubes of salt.
“It’s really interesting to see how the artists have impacted one another. It’s really a unique balance,” said Jennifer Stauffacher, 25, director of Little City’s studio arts program.
“The pieces are not meant for you to be able to tell which piece is done by who,” Stauffacher said. “We did that intentionally so that the viewer would appreciate the art and not wonder who did what. We just want you to focus on the talents and abilities of all the artists.”
Little City artist Mike Lyon described his work, “Sugar Cubes, Paint and Everything Nice,” as “a story about every week here.”
Referring to his mentor, artist Kristine Thompson, who created a similar piece, Lyon, 46, said, “She helped me paint the words on the cubes with wooden sticks. It took a good long while to do that.”
“I am sure in due time my brother might buy the thing,” he said. “He knows how I like to write out paragraphs.”
The exhibit, which opened free to the public this weekend at the area arts council gallery, 207 Park Ave., Barrington, presents more than 45 pieces created by 11 adult artists from Little City’s arts studio program and 8 professionals known as facilitators.
Facilitator Jose Alcantara, 31, said he expanded his philosophy of art while working on three-dimensional assemblage pieces with John King, whose work, “Sue’s and John’s House,” is on display.
“The power of art and how it can break down barriers is what I discovered,” said Alcantara who, as an intern at Little City, works twice a week with artists. “When I entered this internship, I had a lot of prejudices about art. John has a wide use of materials. I learned from him, and he learned from me. We both had an open dialogue about the process.”
Artist Michael Piazza, 45, has worked with the arts studio program since it began in 1994.
“We created this environment where people could come and experience all sorts of media,” Piazza said. “We thought it would be a breakthrough type of environment.
“For an artist with developmental disabilities, getting into an exhibit with artists shows a shift that has occurred,” he said. “It shows what they do is important. It’s an empowerment type of situation. It’s important to let people know the energies these people have.”
The artwork is for sale at prices ranging from $40 to $1,000. Proceeds go toward the artists and arts studio program. The exhibit runs through Oct. 28.
The Barrington Area Arts Council is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
