Open Hearts Art Center

Place

Open Hearts Art Center is a non-profit organization, established with the purpose aiding people with developmental, physical, and emotional disabilities to discover self-expression and self-realization through the visual and performance arts. Student artists are given creative freedom to find their voices through a variety of artistic methods.

For a large part of history, individuals with disabilities have not been considered valuables members of their society. They were placed in ineffective workshops that did not foster expression or self-confidence. Open Hearts creates a safe environment, composed of constant contact between the artists and their community. Through the development of strong relationships, Open Hearts is improving societal perspectives of the capabilities of these remarkable individuals. More importantly, Open Hearts is helping them gain realization of their worth as contributing members of their world.

Open Hearts originated as one of the locations for Creative Clay, another non-profit organization with a similar goal of providing a nurturing atmosphere where people with disabilities can gain a sense of worth through art. Grace-Anne Alfiero founded creative Clay on May 5, 1995. The program began with a $1,000 grant from Knights of Columbus in Pinellas Park, and serving one student. It has expanded to its current services to about 200 students monthly. It is located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Grace-Anne founded Creative Clay on the philosophy of creating “an environment where students can feel safe and encouraged in pursuing their own ways of artistic expression” (creativeclay.org/history). She combined her life experiences as a professional artist, specializing in photography, painting, and mixed media, with her work in Social Services as a therapeutic counselor. Her concepts for Creative Clay have been taught throughout the U.S., Canada, Japan, and elsewhere.

Creative Clay’s location in Weaverville, N.C. faced closing during the summer of 2005. Determined to proceed with the organization’s purpose, Debbie Dearborn, Sonia Pitts, and Jessie took over management of Creative Clay. Desiring to adapt the organization’s appearance to their own creative perspectives, Creative Clay evolved into what is now Open Hearts Art Center.

Classes run 5 days weekly from 9am to 3pm, and are taught by professional artists, human service workers, volunteers, and advocates for individuals with disabilities. They range from painting, drawing, music, dramatic performances, dance, ceramics, fibers, creative writing, yoga, and animal therapy. Students also take field trips to art galleries and other places in the community. They have the opportunity to display and sell their artwork at Woolworth Walk, a
local gallery in Asheville, N.C. Through this connection students receive immediate benefits from their creative processes. The paychecks they collect are physical manifestations of the fulfillment attained through personal success. Open Hearts strives to make this a reality for each of their artists.