Portsmouth art show will bring the ‘outsiders’ in

Friday's event will showcase works by individuals with disabilities

Jim McGaw
Posted 12/13/17

PORTSMOUTH — In keeping with its goal of opening its door to wider segments of the community, Common Fence Point Improvement Association (CFPIA) is hosting an upcoming art exhibit …

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Portsmouth art show will bring the ‘outsiders’ in

Friday's event will showcase works by individuals with disabilities

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — In keeping with its goal of opening its door to wider segments of the community, Common Fence Point Improvement Association (CFPIA) is hosting an upcoming art exhibit showcasing the works of local individuals with various disabilities.

ARTiculations: An Outsider ART Show” will be held at the CFPIA Community Hall, 933 Anthony Road, from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15.

Outsider art is created by people, often with developmental disabilities, who are self-taught and have had virtually no contact with the mainstream art world. 

“It will feature artistic contributions from people in the community who have intellectual and physical disabilities,” said Sarah Chase, one of the organizers of the event and someone who offers direct support to people with disabilities.

Artwork will be pulled from the Newport County YMCA Adapted Program, Looking Upwards, Resources for Human Development Rhode Island, L.I.F.E. Inc., OPTIONS and the James L. Maher Center.

“It will be physical artwork that hangs on the wall as well as other artistic media like photography and pianograms,” said Ms. Chase.

That’s right, pianograms — by Portsmouth High School graduate Michael Collins, who plays the piano and often spotlights his talent at the YMCA during the Christmas season. 

“He has this amazing talent where he can hear a lot of music and remember it and play it back. I’m hoping that he’s able to attend and play some soft music on keyboard,” she said.

Another artist is Kaitlyn Bric, 28, of Middletown, who was working on her heart designs during one of the recent Monday art classes that the community center hosts for all.

“I have my stuff printed on notebooks and mouse pads,” said Ms. Bric, who was working alongside Rosandy Gotay, also of Middletown. Both women are clients of Looking Upwards, which will be well-represented at the show.

“Rosandy and Kaitlyn both concentrate on artwork but we also have a girl, Kelsey Criner, who does photography; she has sold a lot of it,” said Debbie Manchester, assistant director of Looking Upwards. 

“These are clients who have been in our day program for quite a while. The focus for the state is for everyone to have a job. We do have people working at jobs in the community, but we also have people at our day program who have started their own small businesses. So they’re entrepreneurs who will sell their products at craft fairs and different venues that we will attend.”

The organization partners with local galleries and businesses, such as Downtown Designs in Newport. 

“We have maybe six people who design their own jewelry there and we sell the jewelry at the venues, also,” Ms. Manchester said.

Another client, Laura Langa, makes natural scrubs out of essential oils and sugar and sells them under the banner LaLa Essentials. Yet another, Ally Worthy, makes cards.

“We’ll bring a little bit of everything to the show,” said Ms. Manchester. “We merged with Bridges, which has their own art and small business studio, so we’ll probably have some of their products, too. We call it Looking Upwards East now, which is what we’re a part of. They’re called Looking Upwards West, and sometimes we’ll bring our products to their shows and they’ll bring their products to our shows.”

Sense of independence

The program and community outreach gives clients a sense of independence, she said. 

“They would never get as involved in the community as much as they do now,” said Ms. Manchester. “When they go to their shows, they actually talk to people and tell them about their products, so it gets them mixed in with the community and they get to meet people.”

Conley Zani, CFPIA president, said she’s excited for the upcoming art show, which she said is all about the community center’s quest to “reimagine our community.”

“This spirit of collaboration is what we’re focusing on going into the future,” she said.

Common Fence Point Community Center, Common Fence Point Improvement Association

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.