by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
Artists use their hands to draw, paint or sculpt, but not the artists at ARC Jacksonville. Their artists may not have the use of their hands so they create their art through the use of “surrogate hands.”
ARC Jacksonville on Davis Street is a non-profit organization that helps support people with developmental disabilities, said Cara Bowyer, assistant executive director at the ARC Jacksonville.
The three artists who are in ARC Jacksonville’s Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.) program are also in the medically fragile program and have a physical condition to the point they are wheelchair bound. Sometimes, these physical disabilities are also accompanied by a mental disability. A.R.T. was developed by Tim Levins and it is a unique program to northeast Florida that was introduced to the ARC Jacksonville three years ago.
“(A.R.T.) focuses on individuals getting their ideas on canvas,” said Bowyer.
Currently ARC Jacksonville has two “trackers” that are used as the artist’s “hands.” The tracker is directed by the artist as to the size of the canvas, the color of paints to be used, the size and shapes of brushes, and the direction of each brush stroke.
“The artists have a mechanism that is strapped to their head that has a laser pointer on it. With the laser pointer the artist follows the canvas and the tracker follows the movement,” said Bowyer. “The laser is used because they may not have any use of their arms or legs.”
She added that some of the artists are more verbal than others and can communicate with the tracker and talk them through their ideas.
“If they aren’t verbal, the artist can point to the color or tool and they go from there,” she said. “The tracker is never allowed to suggest anything; it is all up to the artist.”
There are 15 consumers, (the term used for those in the ARC Jacksonville program) in the medically fragile program. Bowyer said it is up to the consumer if they want to be in the A.R.T. program.
“The three artists in the program right now really enjoy it. We sold one (piece of artwork) while we were at the Art Walk (on June 7),” she said. “This gives them an outlet to express themselves.”
The artwork will be sale again at Wednesday’s Art Walk in Hemming Plaza.
When an artist’s piece of art work is sold 60 percent of the profit goes back to the A.R.T. program for art supplies and 40 percent goes to the artist.
A.R.T. isn’t the only program that ARC Jacksonville offers its 400 consumers. The Advocacy, Support & Knowledge (ASK) program supports individuals, families and care givers to help them receive information about a disability and understand the services offered, among other things, said Bowyer.
“There is nothing like that in northeast Florida,” she said. “Families can come in and figure out what to do for their loved one.”
Those in the ARC Jacksonville program can select different activities that interest them. They include: a life skills training program, adult basic education, the workshop (a work environment in the facility), the day activity program, the medically fragile program and the senior program.
The workshop is also a unique program where the consumer does different tasks so they can learn different skills.
“Companies will call us and let us know if they need boxes put together or to make tooth pick bundles or package things for the mail,” said Bowyer.
“All of these activities give them a chance to interact with their peers.”