Springfield exhibit displays work of artists with disabilities
November 15, 2017
Their art looks good enough to go on a menu and it’s being served by the Springfield Museum of Art.
A group of nine aspiring artists from TAC Industries has its own exhibit, Blue Plate Specials: The Abilities Connection, containing three-dimensional clay work now on display in the Beach Gallery through Oct. 31.
Admission for this exhibit is free.
The work is the culmination of a two-year project led by Annette Eshelman, the museum’s curator of education. Prior to joining the museum, she’d worked with some of the TAC workers. TAC employs people with disabilities.
The aim was to try to help the individuals with disabilities and strong artistic abilities realize their aspirations. Over the years, Eshelman has seen them gain more confidence as artists.
“It’s something they can call their own,” she said. “They are so proud of their successes. Every lesson builds on the next and doing little things builds to something larger.”
Having previously worked with paints, fabric art and other two-dimensional materials, Eshelman said it was easier for the artists to use their hands working with clay, resulting in their first public exhibit.