Exhibit shines light on artists with disabilities

More than a year ago when The Arc of the South Shore began planning a fund-raiser, the Weymouth-based social services agency wanted to do something that would not only raise money, but also spotlight the work of artists with disabilities.

In past years the Arc organization, which provides education, information, and outreach activities to children and adults with disabilities, had attracted donations from the families it serves through dinner dances and other events, but hadn't really reached out to other residents in its area communities: Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth, Hull, Randolph, Hingham, Milton, Norwell, Cohasset, and Scituate.

When someone on the board suggested an art show, they found what they were looking for.

''There is some really beautiful work done by people with some pretty significant disabilities," said Mary Ann Walsh, Arc's director of development. ''We wanted to do something that would really be about art and get people talking about artists with disabilities."

They took the idea to the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset, and the pieces began to come together.

According to Heather Collins, the art center's community programs manager, a show featuring artists with disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, and mental retardation fits perfectly with the center's mission.

''The Arc's art show matches with our outreach goals and the exciting experience of making and looking at art in the special needs and other underserved populations," she said.

The result is this weekend's ''Art from the Heart," an exhibition and sale of original works by children and adults from across the South Shore.

The artists are served by a number of area agencies besides Arc, such as Road to Responsibility, Cardinal Cushing School, and Grow Associates, as well as the special education departments of local high schools. The event, which will include a wine tasting, will be held at the South Shore Art Center, on Ripley Road in Cohasset, on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Collins said that she finds it exciting to ''see what people who have been marginalized by society can do," and that the South Shore center is the ideal place to showcase it.

''We just celebrated our 50th anniversary, and one of our mandates is to broaden our reach . . . and to really represent all of the towns on the South Shore, and this is a perfect opportunity for us to do that," she said.

In recent years, works by untrained artists have become popular among some collectors. The Outsider Art Fair, held in New York every January, draws artists from all over the country, many of whom have developmental, physical, or mental disabilities. There is at least one gallery in Boston that focuses exclusively on outsider art.

Kathleen Snow, president of Arc's board of directors, has been impressed by the quality of the art in the upcoming show. ''It really spotlights a talent that the artists have, and you wouldn't know they are disabled just by looking at the artwork." That insight is part of the event's mission, she said.

''So often we identify people by their shortcomings," Snow said. '' 'Art from the Heart' really celebrates their talent and abilities."

Collecting the works for ''Art from the Heart" was easy, Walsh said.

''Everyone we approached about a show showcasing people with disabilities was very enthusiastic," she said.

More than 100 pieces of art, including paintings, drawings and sculpture, will be on display. Many will be for sale, and several will be available through silent auction. Most of the artists have donated their portion of any proceeds to the Arc's fund-raising campaign.

Collins said that being in the show should be an empowering experience for the artists, many of whom have never had their work displayed in a gallery.

''We want people to experience the pure joy of creating something and having it be seen by a wider audience," she said. Attendees, she said, ''will be convinced of the value of art making life more livable."

Tickets to ''Art from the Heart" are $50, and are available by calling 781-335-3023 ext. 2230, or by sending a check made payable to The Arc of the South Shore, 371 River St., Weymouth, MA 02191 (note ''art show" on the check).