Gallery For and By Individuals with Disabilities Joins Downtown Brattleboro’s Community
Brattleboro, VT – June 2015 – Gallery Walkers have a unique new stop to enjoy at 61 Main St. in Brattleboro’s vibrant, artistic, downtown community. Angel Boy Art’s Resource Center is a special gallery and community center run for artists with disabilities by volunteers with disabilities.
“We named it our ‘Resource Center’ because this space is much more than just an art gallery for people with disabilities,” says Kim Gove, Vice President, “this is a place to learn, confront and erase stigmas, and challenge yourself.”
The Angel Boy Art Resource Center has all the standards of a traditional art gallery: Framed prints, gorgeous canvases, photography, watercolors, pastels, pencil sketches, and handmade jewlery. Most of the art is accompanied by a biography of the artist detailing his or her special needs and how art plays a role in their life. There is also a wide selection of beautiful vintage and modern jewelry that Angel Boy Art sells to support their free programs and projects.
That is where all things traditional end, and creativity takes over.
Visitors can lounge in a comfortable chair and read any number of books on art, disabilities, and other topics, or engage in one of several interactive displays and activities highlighting disability issues. Children can hug a giant teddy bear who gives away free toys and participate in a free, on the spot art activity with Angel Boy Art facilitators. Even outside the front windows art is in the air where sidewalk chalk is available for all to enjoy. Parents can also enquire about free in-home art therapy sessions for children with any type of special need.
“We definitely picked the right location,” says Gove, “the community reached out to us from every direction the moment we opened. We’ve been able to build a strong relationship with other similar nonprofits like the Inclusion Center, and have volunteers coming from local work programs, so we’ve been growing roots faster than we hoped for.”
The Resource Center is open Thursday through Monday, 10am to 6pm. New artists are welcome regardless of age. All mediums are welcomed. Free in-home art therapy sessions are booking now. Slots are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Call Sara at 802-246-7603.
