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We were founded with the idea that the studio belongs to its artists. The guiding principle behind our studio is to give people an opportunity to shape and be a member of an artistic community; a community that changes with the growing needs of the artists and one that is a contributing member of the larger society.
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Arts of Life offers artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities an alternative career path designed to help enrich their lives as working artists.


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When Kim Hirschman signed up for an experimental printmaking class at the Evanston Art Center (EAC), she didn’t know the class was designed to bring together artists with and without disabilities.
Our EAC collaboration’s goal: to create integrated, inclusive spaces where disabled artists are seen, respected, and celebrated as peers and leaders in the art world. Kim’s participation is a testament to the success of that vision.
As we reflect on what community means this summer, we interviewed Kim about her experience and what keeps her coming back:
Q: You have taken seven classes with us now! What do you like about our classes and the Arts of Life model?
A: There are so many things I enjoy about these classes!
I like my classmates very much. I have been very happy with the teachers who are very talented and good at presenting technical information. They always play to their students’ strengths, encouraging us to try new things but building on what we know how to do already. It might have taken me three passes through the printing class to feel that I had some mastery over the different techniques, but no one seemed to have a problem with this. There is a playful quality in all of their classes that works very well with me.
Q: How has your experience been with Arts of Life’s artists?
A: I haven’t known many people like the ones enrolled in Arts of Life. I have greatly enjoyed getting to spend time with my classmates and see the amazing art they produce. There is such a range of personal and artistic styles! Many people have sneaky senses of humor, which I always prize. Some of my classmates have an incredible command of their chosen medium, and it is always rewarding and instructive to take a look at what they are up to.
While there are a number of fellow students I enjoy talking with, I have gotten to know Marcelo a little outside of class. He is dedicated and immensely talented, and very, very funny. A project I plan to pursue is to use one of his geometric pieces as a design for a fused glass piece.
We’re grateful Kim found a creative home here and can’t wait to see what she makes next!
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#ArtsOfLife #ArtsOfLifeClasses #EvanstonArtCenter

July is Disability Pride Month!! Arts of Life will be celebrating at this year’s Chicago Disability Pride Parade! Join us as we take to the streets on July 26th. We will also have a table at Daley Plaza and there will be a performance from Arts of Life band Van GoGo! Come out and show your support!
Disability Pride Parade Route:
The route starts at 401 S Plymouth Court. Goes 1/2 block west on Van Buren before going North on Dearborn. The route goes down Dearborn until it arrives at Daley Plaza for the post-parade festivities.
Date:
July 26
Time:
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Final stop:
Daley Plaza
50 W Washington St
Chicago, 60602 United States
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#DisabilityPride #DisabilityPrideParade #Parade #ChicagoParade #chicagodisabilityprideparade #ArtsOfLife #VanGoGo #DaleyPlaza #ChicagoParty #ChicagoPride #DisabilityAwareness #ArtsOfLife

We are excited to announce the Complete Schedule and Artist Line-up for Community on the Make, our retrospective museum exhibition at Design Museum of Chicago!
Please join us for the following dates:
Exhibition Dates: August 11th – September 30th
Public Opening Reception: Thursday, August 21st (5 – 8pm)
Starting August 28th, drop by the museum during open studio hours to meet our artists and see what they’re working on! Other activities will include workshops, art critiques, and more!Artist Residency Hours: Thursdays 11am – 1pm.
• Aug. 28: Open Studio
• Sept. 4: Open Studio
• Sept. 11: Fiber workshop with Kg and Ariée
• Sept. 18: Open Studio
• Sept. 25: Open Studio
Admission: Free and Open to the Public
Hours: 10am – 5pm
Where:
Design Museum of Chicago
72 E Randolph St Floor 1
Chicago, 60601
Featured Artists:
Adrian, Ariée, Chris Austin, Renata Berdes, Matt Bodett, Austin Boehs, David Bremer, Maileen Bugnaski, Raina Carter, Guy Conners, Bojana Crnomarkovic, Veronica Cuculich, Samarem Diaz Negrete, Andreana Donahue, Rio Goodwin Perez, Ted Gram Boarini, Stefan Harhaj, Megan Harrigan, Noel Herrera, Nik Heusman, Marcus Imani Kennedy, Emory Jones, Maggie Kamphausen, Anna Kramer, Alexis Krebs, David Krueger, Hana Kulovic, Lawrence M, Ben Marcus, Mike Marino, Noel Mercado, Nick Merlock Jackson, Travis Morehead, Noel Morical, Ingrid Olson, Tim Ortiz, Susan Pasowicz, Hubert Posey, Brian Reed, Mina Romero, Nicholas Schutzenhofer, Alex Scott, Karim Shuquem, Anne Skaug, Annie Soler, Kelly Stone, Tim Stone, Cody Tumblin, Maria Vanik, Chris Viau, Allison Wade, Lacey Whittaker, Jean Wilson, Joshua With, Marvin Young, Christina Zion
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#ChicagoDesignMuseum #ArtsOfLife25thAnniversary #ArtChicago #ChicagoArtEvents #OpenStudios #Exhibition #DesignMuseumExhibition #ChicagoDesign #ChicagoArtists

Arts of Life is thrilled to have been approved for a $80,000 grant from The Warhol Foundation. The multi-year grant will directly support the ongoing work, professional development, and exhibition opportunities of our 80+ professional artists.
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@warholfoundation
#Grateful #Gratitude #WeGotAGrant #AndyWarhol #AndyWarholFoundation #CaseyChrzan #SupportArtists #DisabilityAdvocacy #DisabledArtists #NeuroDiverseArt #DisabilityAwareness #ChicagoArtists #ThankYou
