This good news story is about the a Brush with Art program (ABWA) that was started by my mom and her friends for children with autism, down syndrome and other such special needs.
The program began in early 2016 when Kavitha Krishnamoorthy, a social designer who has been involved with creating inclusive play spaces, moved to our hometown. She already had prior experience in conducting programs and facilitating art for children with special needs. She found Mala Chinnappa, a creative professional in advertising, through an online social network and suggested they start a program in Chennai. Mala then contacted my mom, Jyotsna Srinivasan who has experience teaching arts and crafts to school children and is also Mala's friend from their college days. Together they facilitate and run the program focusing on visual arts for children with special needs.
The program began in early 2016 with around six children, run from a space lent to them by a mutual friend. The main difference with this program is that the children are allowed to explore art by themselves. They aren't made to do anything, but learn by how they want to engage with art. They are introduced to the medium and art form and then allowed free reign over what they want to do with it. Initially the children catered mostly to their sensory needs, but the ultimate goal is to use art as a form of expression. There were a few challenges initially, but over time the children have learnt to trust their facilitators and use the space for their own forms of self expression.
They've expanded to two centers and around 10 children as of now. Seeing how the program benefits the children, they want to expand the program to include more children and adults with disabilities and illnesses.
In August of this year, they had an event that showcased curated work done by the children that was open for parents, well wishers and interested public. This was some of the art that was displayed.
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A lot of people were awe struck by the maturity of the art. It didn't look childish even though they were done by children between the ages of 6 and 16. One design teacher said that he wouldn't have known the exhibition was done by children with special needs if he wasn't explicitly told. Parents also found validation in this exhibition after seeing the wonderful work their children were capable of creating. Another prominent artist summarized this exhibition with this beautiful quote.
"This isn't so much freedom of expression, but an expression of freedom."
This exhibition proves that art and beauty can lie in anything. The people involved weren't thinking about profit or how to utilize their art, but created it for the pure joy and beauty of the process. I hope seeing this spreads some of that beauty and brought a smile to your face!
This has been upvoted and resteemed! I was wondering, what area does this program run in the world? I am hoping to start a non profit, and it aeems your area is very supportive! I love thia program and wish it nothing but success for the children in 2018. Together we can make a difference, together we can make a change.
Thank you! This program happens in my hometown of Chennai, a seaside city in South India. Wonderful to hear you're starting your own non profit for children. Wish you all the best with that endeavour and good tidings for the new year!
Beautiful!! Your mom and her friend have been running an amazing program. The art really does look great and really impressive. I think this is wonderful for your community and hope others can start these as well. Thank you for sharing this #thegoodnews with us
Thank you! They'll be happy to know sharing this story is motivational and inspiring. This channel has really taken off lately and it's such a nice change from the doom and gloom we're all used to.
It's doing great yes. I love reading all these beautiful good news stories. Out with the Doom and Gloom and in with #thegoodnews :)
Hey! I love this post, thanks for sharing. My sister is autistic and she's high on the spectrum so this was a beautiful read. The artwork is magnificent! :-)
Both Kavitha and Mala have kids with special needs. They started this as a response to many other programs that try to 'fix' kids like this. It's really about celebrating the potential and scope of people without focusing on what they lack. Glad you liked it, my mom will be stoked to know. They haven't really got much coverage for all the good work they're doing.
Such a great thing to do, it's a gift to be able to experience a bit of the world through their eyes and work. I would pay for any of these pieces and hang them proudly in my home. They are beautiful. Love this quote and totally agree.
Yeah, I'd heard about mom's work but it really hit me when I saw the exhibition live. I didn't include names and pictures of the kids to protect their privacy, but they're really quite amazing. Most of the monetary profit goes back into buying art supplies and perhaps some of the beauty is that the process rather than the outcome is celebrated.