Hilligoss, a Yorkville resident, is quick to mention that he has been in the Special Olympics for 30 years. He’s done swimming, track and field, bowling, and used to do cross-country skiing. He refers to himself as an “Illinois boy.”
Another title for this enthusiastic man is: artist.
He describes parts of one painting he created: “A rainbow and trees and … ocean and on land and ocean birds … and rocks and what else? … Trees, blue sky and waves. Waves come up.”
This piece was based on a quote by C.S. Lewis: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
{photo: John Daniels, one of seven artists who are clients of the Association for Individual Development, shows his painting that now hangs at the Westmont office of IlliniCare. | Submitted photo}
Hilligoss is one of the developmentally disabled individuals participating in the Association for Individual Development Blue Shirt Art Studio in Yorkville. This program allows these adults, ranging in age from 23 to 70, to use their artistic skills. They receive a 40 percent commission on sold work.
Hilligoss and six others were selected out of 40 studio clients at the facility to do a project for IlliniCare. Additional artists include Yorkville residents John Daniels, Robert Allen, Ken Carpenter and John Paradowski. Batavia residents Ray Tim Neal and Evelyn Sypien also are participating.
The AID artists helped add color to white walls on the fourth floor of IlliniCare’s new Westmont office.
IlliniCare is a program that offers health care services for aged, blind and disabled adults in local counties. Michael Kinne, president of IlliniCare, came up with the idea to involve AID Blue Shirt Art Studio artists.
“I’m a disability advocate, and I’m a parent advocate,” Kinne said. “I have a son with a disability. So I think about this a lot more than just occupationally or professionally.”
Each artwork has an inspirational quote near it. The artists’ job was to create their work based on the quote. Kinne has found himself gaining inspiration when stepping into the office, where 30 pieces hang on the walls.
“Every time I walk through the office, I stop and I pick up something different from each picture,” he said. “It’s either I think about the artist in a particularly different way or their situation, or I notice something slightly different about the art itself or I read the inspirational quote.”
Jan Peters, art director of AID Blue Shirt Studio, pointed out that despite disabilities, the clients can be great artists. By teaching art, she has learned a lesson, too.
“The most wonderful part about that is that you can never have a wrong answer in art,” she said. “And everybody can express themselves in different ways. Some of the clients like painting. Some like the clay or sculpture.”
Paradowski, 29, has found happiness while creating his featured work.
“I felt perfect,” Paradowski said, “Yes, and normal also.”
# For Association for Individual Development visit:
http://www.the-association.org/
# Source: The Beacon-News By Stefanie Frazier Sept 22, 2011
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/7794877-418/aid-artists-inspire-others-with-works.html
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