60°
The majority of the 60 pieces in the show — made with an array of mediums — are for sale.
Among them is the work of Andrew Weatherly, a 23-year-old Closter native who has Down’s Syndrome.
“I started the program and loved it,” said Weatherly. “It’s acrylic. It’s all abstract. I’m not thinking about anything when I’m painting or doing photography. I take pictures of anything.”
The program is based in Orange, New Jersey and is run by two professional artists.
“Take the word disability off [and] look at the work — beautiful work,” said Kurt Haiman, the president of the Belskie Museum.
“It makes you feel good to do a show like this and give people a visual voice to show their work."
The program offers visual arts instruction, and helps market professionals work so that they can develop resumes, portfolios, and career guidance.
Many artists that come to the organization already have a body of work that they are looking to manage.
“Some of the artists speak through their work to their disabilities - but a lot of them don’t,” said Margaret Mickelson, the executive director of Arts Unbound.
"I would say 70 percent, it’s not a part of their work. Some do, like one woman with multiple sclerosis," Mickelson said.
"For some it is a part of who they are but not what they are sharing with the world.”
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