Curated by Scott J Hunter

Once considered individuals requiring separation from the mainstream, persons with neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders are now recognized as valued contributors to the diversity of our communities. This awareness and recognition has taken place concurrently with a growing movement towards examining and addressing the sometimes quite artificial divisions that exist within the community of creative artists, where it has been the norm to segregate persons who have come to making through less traditional paths, and identifying them as “outsider artists,” who are seen as different from those artists whose training has been more academic and institutionally based. This despite the often quite substantial similarities in process, idea, and production that is seen in the works presented between the two groups, and the influence many “outsider artists” have had on modern and contemporary makers and their approaches to creating work. We are now at an important crossroads where it is imperative we consider the artificiality of this segregation, and come to recognize that making art has many routes behind it. Contemporary practices are ones engaged in by a diverse group of individuals, both in terms of training and experience, and developmental circumstance.

With this exhibition, featuring works by artists involved with Chicago-area based programs The Arts for Life, Esperanza Community Services, and Thresholds Bridge South! , and Flying Colors, the arts program at St. Michael’s Association for Special Education, on the Navajo Nation reservation in Window Rock, AZ, there is a recognition that the creative activities of artists who have neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disabilities are as deeply representative of the wider community of contemporary practices that define the visual arts in the 21st century, as they are reminders of the capacity for making that is inherent in being human. Through this survey presentation of drawings, paintings, sculptures, and multimedia productions, A is for Artist seeks to engage both the diversity of approaches that are present within contemporary art at the current time, and to highlight the range of practices artists with neurodevelopmental differences are engaging in, as they pursue their careers as professionals within the creative community of Chicago and the US.

Thresholds Bridge South! , Chicago:
Leslie Baum, Arts Program Director
Robert Bell
Ronna Carlton
Dewayne Jenkins
Joseph Kelly
Katara Mallory
Manuel Mendoza
Robert Miller
Conrad Sparks
Angela Whitfield
Kenneth Williams
Krishaun Williams

Esperanza Community Services, Chicago:
Stephanie McNeal, Arts Program Director
Jonathan Allen
Terrin Auh
Debbie Bradley
Lawrence Boone
Joseph Cobbs
Natasha Federick
Marlon Fisher
Jonathan Fortier
Isaiah Keys
Jaime Ortega
Eddie Palumbo
Brian Rush
Veronica Sanchez
Jasmine Shaw
Clarence Simmons
Bobby Tirelli
Rogelio Valdez
Roberto Vargas
James Warfield

The Arts of Life, Chicago and North Shore Studios, Chicago and Glenview, IL
Vincent Uribe, Director of Arts Programs
Megan Harrigan, Arts Program Director, North Shore Studio
Arielle Miller, Arts Program Director, Chicago Studio
Billy Borgerd
Guy Conners
Russell Copenharve
Lee Draus
Cole Fox
Danny Frownfelter
Nikole Heusman
Hector Jones
Carolyn Kelley
David Krueger
Rebecca Kubica
Laura McManus
Jack O’Sullivan
Susan Pasowicz
Hubert Posey
Elisha Preston
Edward Rawski
Brian Reed
Linda Ruzga
Tim Stone
Debbie Vasquez
Bobby Verran
Jean Wilson
Quinn Zenner

Flying Colors, St. Michaels Association for Special Education, Navajo Reservation, AZ
Emma Robbins, Board Member and Coordinator for Exhibition Works
Calem Alonzo
Julonda Benally
Hilary Chase
Kyler Dalgai
Charlesie Damon
Dameon David
Caitlin Denetso
Cameron Dennison
Dequan Halkini
Amber Kee
Justin Little
Kara Sue Woodman
William Young

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Tags: A is for Artist, Amber Kee, Angela Whitfield, Arielle Miller, Billy Borgerd, Bobby Tirelli, Brian Reed, Brian Rush, Caitlin Denetso, Calem Alonzo, Cameron Dennison, Carolyn Kelley, Charlesie Damon, Chicago, Clarence Simmons, Cole Fox, Conrad Sparks, Dameon David, Danny Frownfelter, David Krueger, Debbie Bradley, Debbie VasquezBobby VerranJean WilsonQuinn Zenner, Dequan Halkini, Dewayne Jenkins, Eddie Palumbo, Edward Rawski, Elisha Preston, Emma Robbins, Esperanza Community Services, Flying Colors, Guy Conners, Hector Jones, Hilary Chase, Hubert Posey, Isaiah Keys, Jack O'Sullivan, Jaime Ortega, James Warfield, Jasmine Shaw, Jonathan Allen, Jonathan Fortier, Joseph Cobbs, Joseph Kelly, Julonda Benally, Justin Little, Kara Sue Woodman, Katara Mallory, Kenneth Williams, Krishaun Williams, Kyler Dalgai, Laura McManus., Lawrence Boone, Lee Draus, Leslie Baum, Linda Ruzga, Manuel Mendoza, Marlon Fisher, Megan Harrigan, Natasha Federick, Nikole Heusman, Rebecca Kubica, Robert Bell, Robert Miller, Roberto Vargas, Rogelio Valdez, Ronna Carlton, Russell Copenharve, Scott J Hunter, Stephanie McNeal, Susan Pasowicz, Terrin Auh, Thresholds Bridge, Thresholds Bridge South!, Tim Stone, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Veronica Sanchez, Vincent Uribe, West Town, William Young