Kate Manners Painting “Dragon on Fire”.
LANCASTER, Pa.–Franklin & Marshall College’s Best Buddies Chapter presents the ASPIE Art Gallery, an exhibition showcasing the work of talented artists with cognitive disabilities on April 19.
The ASPIE Art Gallery celebrates the creativity and talent of ASPIE artists—adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who express themselves through various artistic mediums, including paintings, jewelry, woodwork, and photography. The event is a testament to the power of inclusion and the importance of providing platforms for individuals with disabilities to share their voices and talents with the world.
According to artists like Jonathan Whitlock, painting has helped “regain my place in the world following my car accident and coma.” Similarly, Steven Georges said that “metalwork helped me create what I needed for mobility … metal artwork helps me show people the beauty in what was once thrown away.”
ASPIE, a nonprofit that regularly hosts galleries to showcase the immense talent of their artists, is partnering with Franklin & Marshall Best Buddies for their spring show.
Best Buddies International, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the world’s largest initiative
dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of individuals with IDD. Best Buddies at Franklin and Marshall works to foster one-on-one friendships between F&M students and Lancaster community members with IDD. Best Buddies Club has become an avenue for students to get involved with our Lancaster community and create meaningful, empowering relationships with our community buddies.
Photographer JP Henry says “I am not very verbal or outgoing, but I can be interactive by sharing my observations of the world through photography. It connects me with other people.”
Through the gallery, Best Buddies hopes to create a space on F&M’s campus that can connect ASPIE artists with the College and the Lancaster community.
Open to the public, the event features seven ASPIE Artists: JP Henry, Kate Manners, Steven Georges, Jonathan Whitlock, Dorrin Gingrich, Malcolm Corley, and Jesse Buckwalter. The public can meet the artists, learn more about their creative processes and artistic journeys, and purchase the art. There will also be an opportunity to hear a special music presentation by the Harmonic Crooners at 10:45 a.m. The Harmonic Crooners are an ensemble from the Adult Enrichment program at the United Disabilities Services.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, in the Booth Ferris Room, Steinman College Center at Franklin & Marshall College.
Contact Ariel Levine, Co-President of Franklin & Marshall Best Buddies Club at alevine2@fandm.edu with any questions.
Each of the artists below will have pieces on display at the gallery.
Jp Henry, photographer. Earleville, MD. Photo Courtesy of ASPIE.
Jp Henry Photograph “Blue Sky Breezes”
JP Henry: “I am not very verbal or outgoing, but I can be interactive by sharing my observations of the world through photography. It connects me with other people.”
Kate Manners, pour painter, Lancaster, PA. Photo Courtesy of ASPIE.
Kate Manners Painting “Dragon on Fire”
Kate Manners: “I express my creative side through pour paintings. The painting emerges first and then the object depicted and title pop into my head from the painting.”
Stephen Georges, metal artist, Mt. Joy, PA. Photo Courtesy of ASPIE.
Stephen Georges Metalwork “Black lightening bug made of Metal”
Steven Georges: “Metalwork helped me create what I needed for mobility. Now metal artwork helps me show people the beauty in what was once thrown away.”
Jonathan Whitlock, painter. Lancaster, PA. Photo Courtesy of ASPIE.
Jonathan Whitlock Painting “Woman in Room”
Jonathan Whitlock: “Painting regains my artistic instincts, but it also helps regain my place in the world following my car accident and coma.”
Dorrin Gingerich, painter, Macon GA. Photo Courtesy of ASPIE.
Dorrin Gingerich Painting “Jellyfish”
Dorrin Gingrich: “I like to experiment with paint. It helps me to grow as an artist and ‘happy’ mistakes can become an unexpected new perspective, better than originally planned.”
Jesse Buckwalter, photographer. Lancaster, PA. Photo Courtesy of ASPIE.
Jesse Buckwalter Photograph “Clouds”
Jesse Buckwalter: “I love to take very close up photos and often leave the distance blurred. I think it brings out the beautiful details of life.”
Malcolm Corey, painter, Lancaster, PA, with some of his paintings. Photo Courtesy of ASPIE.
Malcolm Corley: “Making art is work, but I’m happy when a piece is finished. I want the people who see my art to feel happy, too.”
Sophomore Ariel Levine is Contributing Writer. Her email is alevine2@fandm.edu.