Training center residents, staff open art show

By Cynthia Pegram

Published: June 20, 2008

The swirls and the colors seem completely abstract at first, but the artist answered correctly when asked to name the painting.

“Face,” said the resident as she gave the painting to Kari Brizendine, physical therapist at Central Virginia Training Center.

Brizendine was a bit dubious at first, but when it was hung, she and physical therapy assistant Gayle Jester perceived the eye, the hair and the mouth.

Definitely a face.

On Thursday, the two were very happy for the artist who took first place among artwork submitted by individuals at CVTC, a state residential program for people with intellectual disabilities.

This was the second year for the June art and craft show, which included work by CVTC employees. This is the first year it is open to the public.

Julio Uchimura, an artist with a studio in Lynchburg, selected the show winners among works by residents and employees.

“I found it remarkable in the creativity,” Uchimura said.

Some of the works were done as part of their therapy.

For example, the physical therapists created settings where the individual would get physical therapy benefits while working on the art.

“We put the paper high on the wall, where they would have to reach or look up, to improve their balance,” Brizendine said.

Cuff weights were used to strengthen their arms.

Jester described how a resident began smiling and became animated as she worked.

The therapists were fascinated by “the things our individuals did on their own, without our prompting,” Jester said.

One example was the artist who used different brush strokes, like swirls for warm colors such as red and orange, and straight strokes for cool colors like blue and green.

Occupational Therapy has traditionally used arts and crafts work, but this is a new way for the two physical therapists to achieve their goals.

“We have to be creative,” Jester said.

Conventional exercise sets don’t work with some of the folks.

One of the art winners was CVTC’s oldest resident, Roy Williams, 91. His drawing, “Baby,” won third place. His work was part of the senior citizens table.

Williams said that the baby drawing is of a specific child named Melvin that he once knew. The line drawing has a simplicity of form but is immediately evident as a face.

Uchimura also selected one of the red, white and blue works.

“Even though it does not look like the American Flag … it is striking in that you immediately identify it as one.”

About 200 CVTC residents participated in the show — but many pieces were group efforts.

A colorful work comprised of pieces of fabric that was done by a group took a first place in crafts.

“The pieces of material were donated,” said Linda Poore of the vision program. “All of the 42 in the group are legally blind, though some have vision.”

The group put fabric pieces on a cork display board. The fabric pieces are colorful and varied to the touch. The bright yellow rickrack allows a person with no vision to get a tactile sense of the artwork.

Other craft works included decorated hats. Old-fashioned orchid boxes — the kind that Mother’s Day orchids used to come in — were decorated with brilliantly colored “jewels.”

Multi-colored yarn bowls were formed by draping glue-saturated yarn over bowls covered in plastic wrap. The yarn dries, the plastic wrap is removed, and the bowl has a form of its own.

Calvin Staton, director of volunteer services, was chairman of the committee who put together this year’s show. Next June the show will be open to works done in area group homes, as well, he said.

Staff winners for photography were Terry Martin followed by Gina Bailey and Cheryl Henderson. For art: Cheryl Henderson, Sharon Bonaventura and Janice Branham. In crafts, Bruce Klempel won first, followed by Terry Adams and Carolyn Bowling.

The CVTC show will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 20, the final day. Some works can be purchased.