Issue 4 APRIL 2010

Releasing the Creative Power of

People with Disabilities Since 2002
Since 2002FOR A SECURE FUTURE.

Arts
Unbound
The Valley Arts District
Arts Unbound is a proud member of
the Valley Arts District located in the
old industrial core of the Valley
neighborhood on the Orange/West
Orange border. Once known as “the
hat capitol of the world” it is home to
Italian restaurants and working man
taverns. In 2001 an array of
stakeholders – artists, businesses and
residents – came together to create a
vision for the Valley known as the
Valley Plan which, endorsed by the
state of NJ involved public and private
dollars used for redevelopment and
rehabilitation. Today artists creating in
many different media live and work in
the Valley Arts District in renovated
spaces in old factory buildings. Music
and poetry festivals, curated art shows,
a graphic design business run by
Orange City students, new restaurants
and performance spaces provide
opportunities for community, creativity
and celebrations of all kinds. Arts
Unbound is very much a part of this
mix, hosting monthly exhibitions at our
gallery and providing classes in the
visual arts in our studio on Freeman
Street. Lorena LaGrassa, an artist,
curator and former gallery manager has
been recently hired as the Coordinator
for the Valley Arts District. “As the new
coordinator….. my commitment is to
inspire, encourage and promote art in
the community….. One of my desires is
to support and create a number of
public art projects, interactive art
initiatives and events to stimulate and
nurture the development of public
awareness of the arts and its benefits
to the social environment.” The Valley
Arts District hosts a monthly Art Loop
on Friday evenings that involves the
entire art district. Special events are
being planned all year long. For more
information log onto the organization’s
website at www.valleyartsdistrict.org

Display of artwork “Second Annual Youth Exhibit" “ A Community of Art”

and craft items Saturday, May 1st - Saturday, June 5th –26th
EVENTS

Sunday, April 25th Friday, May 28th Opening reception

at the First Unitarian
Universalist Church of Essex
County
135 Cleveland Street, Orange.
10:30 AM - 12:30
Sponsored by Mrs. Beatrice Sabin
Opening reception Saturday,
May 1st : 1- 5 PM
The exhibit will feature the creative
talents of young artists with disabilities
June 5th 1 – 5 PM
A special collaboration between
Arts Unbound and Valley Arts
exploring the diverse,
local talent in our communities

“ A Community of Art”1, Issue 4 ● Arts Unbound ● 973-675-ARTS (2787)

April 2010 ● Volume
“Second Annual Youth Saturday, June 5th –

Robert Ramos, curator and gallery director
of Arts Unbound, and Kathi Meding,
executive director of the Oak Street branch
of the Ridgewood YMCA, hang artwork on
display as part of an exhibit for Autism
Awareness Month.
“The exhibit officially
opened last night, and the
participants' work is on
display and available for
purchase. The foundation
is the organizer of this
event and other events
planned for this month.
"There's so many talented
individuals on the autism
spectrum who love art,"
said Linda Walder Fiddle,
founder and executive
director of The Daniel
Jordan Fiddle Foundation,
"and we wanted to give
them professional
training."
Organizers hope to raise
awareness of not only
autism, but of the
capabilities of many
people who live with it.
All the artists featured in
the show are adults living
with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD).
"What we want to do is
create awareness that
autism is not only about
children," Fiddle
explained. "It is a lifespan
challenge. We want to
Autism Awareness
Month opens with art
exhibit
After 20 weeks of training, participants in The
Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation's Arts Unbound
Program have their artwork on display at the
Ridgewood YMCA as part of Autism Awareness
Month in the village.
make people aware of the
capability of people with
autism. This [art
exhibition] is only one
example."
Paul Aronsohn, a member
of the Village Council and
co-founder of Ridgewood
Community Access
Network (CAN), explained
that Autism Awareness
Month and the events
scheduled within it
provide "a unique
opportunity to learn,
experience and celebrate
the lives of people with
autism."
"Like everyone," said
Aronsohn, "people with
autism have special needs
and special gifts."
The aim of the Arts
Unbound Program, a non-
profit arts organization
that serves those with
mental, physical and
developmental
disabilities, is to provide
not only instruction, but a
vocational arena for
participants to succeed in
their passion for art.
Fiddle highlighted the fact that
the featured artists have
managed to do what many
visual artists seek to do –
display and sell their work in a
gallery setting.
"The success is on so many
levels – the sense of personal
achievement, the sense of
refining of skills and talents,
and the ability to be a working
artist in this case, because
they're exhibiting their
artworks and the artworks are
for sale," Fiddle said. "If you
look at artists who aren't on
the autism spectrum, to get
your artwork on display and
potentially sold is the
culmination of what you want
to be doing."
In addition to the display,
politicians from the local, state
and national levels were
present to read proclamations
commemorating April as
Autism Awareness Month.
The works will remain on sale
throughout the month of April
and all proceeds will go to the
artists. “
(Quoted from
The Ridgewood News 4/2/10)
April 2010 ● Volume 1, Issue 4 ● Arts Unbound ● 973-675-ARTS (2787)
ARTIST
OF THE
MONTH
James Jeffreys
Photographic Exhibit through 4/24
Sponsored by Kessler Foundation
From the point of view of art, I
wanted to convey messages that
pricked people or pushed their
buttons, at least they would leave the
work thinking. I did not want to
create just for the sake of creating.
Once I had the visualization process
complete, the transformation was
always a delight to see. In
photography, I am drawn to how
images came together from the
physical world into the photographic
realm, which can be illusionary. I like
the fact that photos were not always
what they seemed when looked
through the camera’s eye, and they
were transformed into something
magical when viewed as a print.
A photograph can be extremely
straight forward in that it can convey
a basic message or statement. For
example, I could take a photo of a
nude, and it could be viewed as a
simple portrait. Or the same
photograph could be viewed in a
completely different manner with a
metaphorical meaning. Issues of
metaphor have always captured my
attention, especially in the arts.
I have always been interested in my
“shadow side”. I indicate shadow
side rather than dark side because
the term dark relates it to evil. And
the shadow side is not necessarily
evil. It is just the alternate side that
lies dormant within you.
Some day, Byrd says, he would like to
see his work in the Brooklyn Mu-seum
of Art.
 BE A DONOR…
Board of Directors:
BE AN INSTRUCTOR…
Mary Jo Codey, Former
First Lady, State of NJ, BE A VOLUNTEER…
Honorary Chairperson
Please help…
Harold Garwin, President ∙
Catherine Lazen ∙ Jim Because artists with disabilities want us.
Ferruggiaro ∙ Robert
O’Brien ∙ Lorie Safin .
Because, as Amy Charmatz says,
“Art Saves Lives”
VISIT US!
Lorne Hargis ∙ Ann Marie You may visit our studio and gallery at 542 or 544
Gotti-Roberts ∙ Allen Freeman Street in Orange, NJ during the following
Visit www.ARTSUNBOUND.org times:
Shefts ∙ Mark Salvacion ∙
Sean Bradley ∙ John for more information Monday - Friday: 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Ratkowitz ∙ Michele Saturday: 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Dushkin and Gail
Other arrangements by appointment only. Classes
Levinson, Executive
Director
Who we are… and exhibit schedule is flexible based on the needs
of the student, group, or organization.
Arts Unbound is a non-profit organization

542 / 544 Freeman Street dedicated to the artistic achievement of youth,

Did you know that we are always looking
Orange, NJ adults and senior citizens with disabilities. for new and exciting artists to feature in
Call us: our gallery and in exhibits around the
Through our professional classes in the visual
state? If you are an artist (youth or adult)
973-675-ARTS (2787) arts and exhibitions in our gallery and or emerging artist with a mental, physical
Fax us: throughout the state of NJ, we are committed
or developmental disability, visit our
website for a special form where you can
973-678-4408 to unleashing the artistic expression of persons submit your artwork for consideration.
info@artsunbound.org
living with developmental disabilities, mental
illness and physical challenges. Come learn
more about us and join us either as a student,
Releasing the Creative
artist, instructor, donor or volunteer.
Power of People
AU on Facebook: www.facebook.com
with Disabilities Search: Arts Unbound
E-Mail: We are eager to have you join our family!
Since 2002 AU on Twitter:
someone@example.com www.twitter.com/artsunbound
Web Site:

www.artsunbound.org
ARTS UNBOUND
542/ 544 Freeman St.
Orange, NJ