Two artAbility spring workshops will be held from 12-4 p.m. Feb. 11 and Feb. 25. ArtAbility is a Center on Disabilities and Human Development (CDHD) student-led program for adults with disabilities to express themselves through art. At both workshops, Artist David Herbold will teach participants how to create with clay.
“He will be instructing participants on how to create bowls and figurines and plates,” said Project Director Kalli Sorber.
University of Idaho students attended a session Tuesday Jan. 24 required for volunteering at artAbility workshops. Jen Magelky-Seile, a member of the Idaho Self-Advocate Leadership Network (SALN), facilitated the session. She taught potential volunteers how to be respectful and understand when help is beneficial and when it is harmful.
“First ask, it’s okay not to know what to do and be curious, but it’s not okay to make assumptions about what people need,” she said.
She said she has first-hand experience with people making assumptions about her and her husband’s disabilities. She said often people push her to the side when trying to open doors for them.
“Sometimes I don’t need or want your help, so please respect it if someone says ‘no,I’m fine,’” she said.
Magelky-Seile said everyone is different and not every person with a certain disability will need the same help.
Volunteers assist as needed by helping with ideas, color-coordinating, grabbing materials and socializing. Sorber said over 75 students have volunteered in the three years the project has existed.
“The purpose of all the workshops are to garner communication between individuals with disabilities and University of Idaho students,” Sorber said.
Psychology Major Zach Cable, who attended the session Tuesday, said this is his second time participating in a program for people with disabilities. He said he participated in Courageous Kids Climbing last summer.
“That really motivated me to get more involved,” he said.
He said he heard of artAbility from his girlfriend, who bought an art piece which now hangs on their wall.
Washington Art Trust Fund and the UI Student Arts Fund support the project, Sorber said. She said funding for the program has increased this year due to expanded interest.
She said participants can now create 3D projects in addition to 2D and the number of workshops may increase from six to eight for the 2017-2018 academic year.
This year, four workshops were held in fall and two will occur in spring, she said.
She said the workshops traditionally culminate in a one-night April showcase where the art can be displayed, sold or given away.
“We get them framed, we get them photographed, and we just have it like a professional art show,” she said.
She said she would, however, like the art to be displayed throughout the month of May.
Sorber said she hopes the program continues for years after she leaves it at the end of this semester.
“I think that it’s a really great program and I’m glad so many people are interested in it,” she said.
Nina Rydalch can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NinaRobin7