New art program at Aspire has everyone feeling creative.
The art room at Aspire is covered in art of all different styles and colors. Art lines the walls, but also every other open surface. There are looms, canvases, pallets, and more waiting for their artists to cover them. Aspire, a community for people with disabilities, is working on yet another empowering program.
Aspire has always involved art in their happenings, but with more interest and great talent they have expanded the program. Creative Expressions is a group of eight artists; each artist is given supplies by Aspire. After signing a contract, Aspire can sell each artist’s work throughout the community; artists receive 50% of the income from sales. The artists, however, are more interested in art as their hobby and passion, rather than their business. Kirk Opp, a knitter, knits almost every day of the week for several hours. His work is available at Karisma Boutique; he also donates hats for newborns at both hospitals in Aberdeen. “I like to donate” says Opp.
Another artist, Jim Weber, also has work shown off in businesses around Aberdeen. Weber’s paintings can be seen hanging in Hearing Care Professionals and at the Capitol Theatre. Weber uses many different styles and sizes of brushes on his canvases to create abstract pieces. Mari Anne Dale, the Creative Expressions coordinator, explains that the art room is like a home base for the eight artists: “Art is a stress reliever. It is therapeutic and gives them a sense of accomplishment.” Dale would like to see the Creative Expression artists’ work all over town. Ergo, if your space needs some color and life, contact Aspire to checkout art by Creative Expressions! // — Hannah Loefke
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