By JACKIE LEWIS

Five years ago Arts of Life turned 20, but the pandemic disrupted some of their larger plans to mark the anniversary. This year, the city-wide celebration of a quarter century of making a difference in the lives of artists and

bringing awareness to disability culture has already more than made up for plans cancelled in 2020.

Since January 2000, Arts of Life has elevated the broader Chicago arts community by challenging the notion that disabled artists are “outsiders” when compared to their contemporaries. Through a collaborative decision making model that allows all artist voices a say, Arts of Life has created an equitable, creative collective that speaks with their artists and their needs, not for them. By offering professional art studio space, community programs, and home-based programs, Arts of Life strives to meet the needs of people of all abilities who are interested in making art and connecting with fellow artists. Today, the organization supports over 80 artists, offering each one their own studio space in one of their three professional studios where artists work from individualized project plans or receive 1:1 visual art facilitation, all while earning monthly stipends and bonuses from the sales of their own artworks.

To celebrate this year’s anniversary of a quarter century, Arts of Life has published a book titled 2wenty 5ive Arts of Life 2000–2025, highlighting 25 artists who have impacted the Arts of Life community alongside stories of inspiration. In the book’s foreword, Debra Kerr, the Director of the Intuit Art Museum (formerly Intuit, the Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art) notes, “Arts of Life has built a thriving organization from the initial nine artists and one location to more than 80 artists in three locations.” Numbering more than 200 pages, the book is the culmination of years of hard work and inspiration, commemorated within a bright blue cover and featuring a portrait by an Arts of Life artist centered among colorful rays emanating joy and creative energy. The book will be distributed across the country through Urban Outfitters.

Arts of Life’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Denise Fisher, shares the organization’s excitement regarding this milestone while looking towards an exciting future, “We are overjoyed to mark Arts of Life’s silver anniversary with a year of celebrating both the past quarter century and what is to come. This milestone is a testament to the creativity and resilience of our community. Our collective work is captured in our beautiful book, which highlights our role in the national progressive art studio movement in supporting artists with disabilities. We look forward to gathering with new and longtime friends as we continue to work towards a more equitable and accessible future.”

At the book launch and birthday party on February 22nd current and former artists, families, staff, volunteers and art supporters gathered to dance, cut cake, take photos under a balloon arch and share their love of art and community. Cindy Shanker, a volunteer since 2012 and a pillar in the Arts of Life community was honored for her many years of community service.

Those who work with her say Shanker has a reputation for being dependable and encouraging people not to worry, confidently promising that today each artist will receive skillful attention, sensible assistance, and boundless energy and enthusiasm.

The February celebration was truly a kickoff for a year of gratitude as well as national engagement. Later that month in New York City the organization continued the book launch at the

Outsider Arts Fair where they set up a booth centered on selling the new book. Arts of Life also brought along artist Marcus Kennedy, who is featured in the book, as an artist ambassador, an exciting first for the group.

The organization has participated in art fairs around the world, including Art Fair Tokyo and Art Collaboration Kyoto, NADA and Untitiled in Miami, and EXPO Chicago.

Circle Contemporary, Arts of Life’s rotating exhibition gallery that features recent works from in-house artists as well as guest contemporary artists is also mounting a special exhibition, What they said, March 28–May 9.

Circle Contemporary is an extension of efforts to strengthen Arts of Life’s creative community, and it aims to provide a space and outlet for artistic inspiration and exploration. What they said is guest curated by acclaimed artists Nick Cave and Bob Faust. “We are overjoyed to be working with Bob and Nick on What They Said,” shares Fisher. “For 25 years, Arts of Life has worked to support the careers of our artists with disabilities. Collaborating with internationally recognized artists like Faust and Cave plays an essential role in increasing our artists’ opportunities for professional development as well as increased visibility.”

Image: Art work by Arts of Life artist David Kreuger

Prolific artist and designer Faust says he was inspired by the formal qualities of Arts of Life artists’ recent work. “For What they said, Nick and I are making artwork selections based on the feelings that come up when we experience them. Whether it’s a clash of color, build-up of material or anintensity coming through repetitive mark-making, each has a way of getting under the skin.”

Artists included in the exhibition are John Bateman, Shenequa Brooks, Saumitra Chandratreya, Joel Ebner, Dan Gamble, Ted Gram-Boarini, Ted Hamel, David Krueger, Lawrence M., Tim Stone, James Schenck, Lisa Solar, Oly Trindl, Maria Vanik, Frank Vega and Jean Wilson.

Late this summer Arts of Life will have a dedicated exhibition at the Design Museum of Chicago, August 11–September 30, and a correlating Art on theMART projection later this year. Their annual Benefit Art Auction will take place on October 3.

Arts of Life artist David Krueger says, “To me, art makes me really happy about myself, it gives me a lift. It makes me feel happy to experience the different colors and the different textures. It makes me feel more comfortable. I like to spread my feelings through my paintings.”

With 25 successful years of art inclusion and exposure in the Chicago community, it’s clear that the work of Arts of Life and the joy they have to share through and for their artists is only getting started.

DETAILS AT ARTSOFLIFE.ORG

Top image: David Krueger working on art in the Chicago studio.jpg