Disability services artists showcase nature’s beauty

Fantasy Forrest II
Western Michigan University's Center for Disability Services staff and consumers worked together to create the group of abstract landscapes currently on display in the College of Health and Human Services second floor art gallery. 

A college affiliate enterprise, the Center for Disability Services provides a variety of programming for adults with disabilities. Its mission is to provide activities on-site and in the community to promote inclusion and enrich the daily lives of program participants. 

Art therapy

In art therapy classes, participants celebrate their creative abilities using adaptive measures which encourage independence and authentic expression. Art at the center is a positive alternative to anger or aggression and a means of coping with anxiety and sadness. For some, the rhythmic motion of painting is therapeutic. For others, it’s the physicality of molding, shaping or pounding out various materials.

Consumer artists also gain confidence and build self-esteem through displaying and selling their pieces to the public. The artwork they sell helps recover the cost of materials and gives the individuals personal spending money for outings and activities they enjoy.

Hours

This unique exhibit can be viewed through Sept. 4 from 7:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. The Creative Forces in Nature’s Harmony exhibit is free and open to public viewing.

Questions?