Positive Impact Through Art Programs: Local Organizations Come Together to Showcase the Work of Tampa Artists with Disabilities

The USF Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) and the USF Collaborative for Children, Families & Communities are hosting a Spring Art Exhibition to showcase the work of Tampa-Bay area artists with mental and physical disabilities. A selection of drawings, paintings, prints, installations, silk-screens and sculptures will be on display February 1st – April 13, 2007 at the FMHI building during regular office hours.

An opening reception is being held February 1st from 11am – 1pm at FMHI. Artists from VSA Arts of Florida, Pyramid Foundation Inc., MacDonald Training Center, Mental Health Care Inc. and Project Return Inc. will be present.

Included in the exhibit are several pieces from USF Fine Arts Student Jessica Joy Goldberg. Now in her last semester at USF, Jessica was recently selected as a winner of the national art competition, "Destination Anywhere," which selected works from 15 award-winning young artists with disabilities, sponsored by VSA arts and Volkswagen of America, Inc. Her winning work is part of a touring exhibit that has been on display at the The Smithsonian Institution, and now on at the Miami University of Ohio Art Museum in Oxford, OH.

“ This is an invaluable opportunity for the community to meet and greet artists whose lives have been positively impacted by supportive art programs,” said Judi Jetson, USF Collaborative Director. “The Tampa Bay Community is fortunate to have such organizations dedicated to helping individuals focus on their abilities rather than their disabilities, and we are proud to be a part of this special exhibit.”

FMHI is located on the USF Campus at 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MHC 1129, Tampa 33612. For additional information about the exhibit, contact Storie Miller at 813-974-5468.

The Participating Organizations:

• The mission of FMHI is to improve the lives of people with mental, addictive, and developmental disorders through research, training, and education. Established by the Florida legislature in 1967, the Institute is recognized as Florida's premier research and training center for behavioral health services and is a recognized national leader.

• The USF Collaborative for Children, Families and Communities brings together University faculty and students, nationally known researchers, community service organizations and professionals, youth, neighborhood activists, government officials and ordinary moms and dads to build a better Tampa Bay community.

• VSA Arts of Florida was founded in 1981 by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Department of State and is housed at the University of South Florida. Housed in the USF College of Education, VSA Arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities.

• Pyramid Inc..Pyramid Studios and Gallery located at 1508 W. Sligh Avenue provides art training, education and experiences to individual adults with developmental disabilities. The Pyramid Gallery serves as a showcase for their artists as well as artists throughout the community who are associated in spirit and action with the developmentally disabled population of Hillsborough County. The studios, gallery and gift shop are opened to the public to view and purchase art from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm daily. The artists are exhibiting their latest works at the quarterly exhibit which is displayed for two months beginning in January. The remaining month of the quarter is open to community artists to have an exhibit. Their latest show, "Prism", opened January 25th with recent works on canvas, paper, wood, stone and glass as well as jewelry.

• MacDonald Training Center The mission of the MacDonald Training Center is to empower people with disabilities to lead the lives they choose. Since 1955 MacDonald Training Center has served adults with disabilities by providing a wide variety of options and opportunities including Community Living, Employment Services, Vocational Skills Training and Life Enrichment Activities.

In 2006 MacDonald Training Center opened a Fine Arts Studio where individualistic
works of art are created for both personal enjoyment and sale to the community.

• Mental Health Care Inc. was created to ensure that each and every individual receives the finest mental health care available and achieves his or her maximum potential regardless of their ability to pay.

• Project Return Inc. is dedicated to improving the quality of life for adults with mental illness through educational, vocational, and supportive housing services so that they may lead productive and fulfilling lives in the community. Project Return looks beyond the illness and focuses on normalizing people's lives, treating people as people, and giving them practical skills so that they can empower themselves to re-enter the community as contributing members.