In the 23 years since its establishment, the Art For All Mississippi Community Art Group has provided opportunities for all adults with disabilities to participate in art experiences and art-marking, according to their needs and abilities.
The staff kept up that tradition on February 14, when, for Valentine’s Day, the group hosted an art class at the Community Arts Center on North Main Street in downtown Hattiesburg with the Step OUT group from the University of Southern Mississippi’s Institute for Disability Studies.
“I (wanted) to find my community of artists that need the outlet to kind of bring out their innate abilities, to discover what art they’re good at and what they enjoy,” said Suzanne Lindsey, who serves as program director for Art For all Mississippi. “It’s really a passion for us, saying that ‘art is for all’ – we want no one to feel excluded.
“I think every human is born to be creative in some way, and a lot of times individuals are told that they’re not an artist, or that they can’t be an artist. So I reach out to those groups or individuals that come into our class, and it’s healing, rewarding, and it makes them feel so special to have their work included in different (places and settings). It’s a sense of place, and it’s becoming its own community inside another community.”
In connection with the holiday, participants painted a black canvas with colors such as red, pink, orange, yellow, blue and turquoise. Each student was encouraged to blend the colors together to create a study of the “warm and cool” concept, and the finished products included brush strokes in the shape of a heart.
“Everyone has a different finished piece – I guide them through putting that paintbrush onto the canvas, but after that, they kind of follow their own heart and desires,” Lindsey said. “So that’s the fun part, honestly, is how everyone achieves something completely different within the project.
“We kind of talk to each person as they’re working, either to provide them with more insight or just to help guide them. And everyone is so proud of the end result once they’re finished. So it’s kind of like outreach, education and discovering a group for individuals who can really find a passion for themselves. It’s a big deal for me to take on this role – I really feel like this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
The Valentine’s Day class featured several special guests, including:
- Malcolm Berch, chief financial officer for the City of Hattiesburg;
- Miss Mississippi Vivian O’Neal;
- Rick Wilemon, board member for Art For All; and
- Tom Harmon, executive director for Art For All.
The Art For All Mississippi Community Art Group, which is headquartered in Jackson, was founded in 2001 with eight students. The organization offers professional instruction and guidance to participants while utilizing a variety of techniques, including individual and group instruction by the teaching artist, visiting artists, use of instructional books and tours of museums and galleries to observe masterworks.
In addition, the Hattiesburg branch also offers classes to senior citizens.
“I do have a large group that comes to me once a week,” Lindsey said. “At first they were terrified, (but now) they look forward to every (class).
“Although not everyone in there has disabilities, there are a few that do, so I kind of get to work with both worlds in that group.”
Classes are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Community Arts Center, 825 North Main Street in Hattiesburg. For more information, follow the Facebook page for Hattiesburg Community Art Group or contact Lindsey by phone at (601) 596-4629 or email at hat@artforallms.com.
