Art is defined as “the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.” For Stone Belt clients, art is more than an expression of beauty; art is a form of empowerment through self-discovery.
For over 50 years, Stone Belt has worked to create an environment promoting self-determination to inspire families, the community and individuals with developmental disabilities. Along with many programs, the Stone Belt Art & Craft program started as an effort to reach out to the community and transformed into a platform for possibility. Through the Art & Craft program, clients become artists. One artist, Carolyn Abbitt, has become a community favorite and has inspired many community members to collect Stone Belt art pieces!
One of Carolyn’s pieces, Cicada Data, captures color and imagination with blue beaded trees, beautiful butterflies, and shaped squares of wonder. It’s interesting to note the different color wing of the bee/butterfly at the near left corner of her piece, so lively and different. The piece has many artistic patterns too. For instance, the six trees appear to be blowing in the wind in opposite directions; three in one direction, the other three another direction. Also, each tree has three blue beads on top of its trunks, except the two nearest each other that host 4 beads. Simply, the piece is “of more than ordinary significance” as is the artist!
The power of each Stone Belt art piece allows the artist to express personal choice, while giving the audience a chance to interpret beauty and creativity individually. Simply, the art frees both the artist and spectator in a way that gives the artist a chance to define their character outside of disability. Art, in this way, acts as a bridge between individuals with developmental disabilities and other community members. Through art, we are all given the opportunity to discover “the ability of disability.” In other words, art proves that disability is not all together disabling, it doesn’t stop someone from having the ability to create, to live, and to be talented!
Overall, art captures the culture of Stone Belt it that is paints the truth of Stone Belt’s efforts; prepare, empower, and support people through community participation. For Carolyn, art evoked confidence and she discovered herself to be artist. The Stone Belt Art & Craft program gives artists the space to create, sell, and share their art. In this same way, art gives the community an opportunity to discover the power behind self-determination!
