NEWBERRY — Some people create art for enjoyment, while others use it as a form of expression, but no matter what the reason, anyone can create art regardless of their intellectual or physical disabilities.

The Newberry County Disabilities and Special Needs Board wants to help show off the creativity of its own artists by holding its second Art Abilities Open House and Art Show on March 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 115 Nance St. The Open House and Art Show is held in March to raise awareness to Disabilities Awareness Month.

In 2015, the S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs in Columbia began renovating their central office and after decorating once the renovations were complete, they wanted to use original pieces of artwork from the people they provide services to.

Once NCDSNB got on board with the event, they began to see that some of the people they provide services to had real talent, and found out that for a lot of them it was a creative form of therapy.

During the Open House and Art Show, some of the art shown will be available for sale in a silent auction, with all the proceeds going directly to the artist.

In last year’s show, there were around 40 submissions for viewing and each artist has the choice on whether or not they want to sell their work.

As far as deciding on what they want to paint, Farr said that while some know exactly what they want to do, others do receive some guidance when making the decision.

“Some know exactly what they want to do. Some do nature stuff with flowers or they’ll do animals and landscapes. We have different categories that we look at to try and then we let them pick from that,” said Farr.

There will be a first, second and third place award being handed out during the art show along with a Best in Show award.

“The opportunity to just express themselves with paint and canvas is big for some of them. Others enjoy it for the monetary reward that they’re going to get, and others are just extremely proud of the work they do while some sell their piece and others don’t. But it just gives them a new sense of accomplishment and pride in what they’ve done,” said Farr.

“We are hoping to make this an annual event. Bob Jones, our Executive Director, wanted us to establish some annual things that we could do and this was one of the big ones. So we do plan on making this an annual event,” Farr added. “What we hope to do is actually begin at some point submitting pieces to the State Fair. Every year we’re going to have to find a way to top the year before.”

Farr said that the pieces being shown are just as unique as the person who created them, and that you really see the creativity and hard work that was put into all the pieces.

“You think of a person with an intellectual disability and you don’t think about the creative side of that and how they can have so much talent. A lot of us knew some of the folks that were interested were very talented, but then we got that untapped potential from other folks that we just hadn’t looked at. I think whether we had an art show or not, we would continue to provide that opportunity for them to express themselves with art,” said Farr.

The public will see a variety of pieces, some that were made with paintbrushes and others that were created with bare hands.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Art1.jpgThe public will see a variety of pieces, some that were made with paintbrushes and others that were created with bare hands. Kelly Duncan | The Newberry Observer

The NCDSNB has been hard at completing their pieces for the art show.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Art2.jpgThe NCDSNB has been hard at completing their pieces for the art show. Kelly Duncan | The Newberry Observer

By Kelly Duncan

kduncan@civitasmedia.com

Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-768-3123 ext. 1868 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.