Dreams and Hopes

Passion Works & Colors of the Soul’s Quilt Exchange Project

January 26 - April 16, 2006

Passion Works Studio in Athens, Ohio, supports collaborations between artists with and without developmental disabilities (MR/DD). Through the process of making fine art, illustrations, ideas and techniques are later translated to products. These products are designed to create employment opportunities for people with MR/DD and a funding stream to support continued art making at Passion Works Studio.

In 2004, Dr. Wayne Lawson, through the Ohio Arts Council’s International Program, asked Passion Works’ Art Director Patty Mitchell to share this process at a center (Cruz del Sur) in Punta Arenas Chile. Mitchell went to Chile and worked with young adults with MR/DD and their art instructor, Lenka Guisande. They concentrated on making painted quilts and named the art studio “Colors of the Soul.” These students were industrious and excited by the process and within two weeks, 24 quilts were completed.

In early 2005, the Ohio Arts Council’s international exchange brought Lenka Guisande to Passion Works Studio. She brought with her drawings and fabric from her students in Chile. All of the Passion Works artists participated in the exchange creating collaborative works. Five pieces were made into greeting cards. The back of the cards describes the work of both studios and the exchange and the profit will be shared between the two centers, now “Sister Studios.”

The collaborative art was also recreated on tiles, small sculptures and Colores del Alma continues to create hand-painted quilts.

What began as an artist residency with a quilting focus became the seed for a much more spiritually and economically satisfying project. This exchange demonstrates the talents of people with developmental disabilities, the power of art to bring people and communities together, and how this art making can become a funding stream for continued support of important programs.

Tour some of the works that will be on display!

There are 7 images contained within this archive which are intended for personal/educational use only. These images are protected by a 2006 photographic copyright which belongs to the Ohio Arts Council. They, therefore, are not in the public domain.

Gabriela Mancilla and Hans Sommers Making art in Puntas Arenas, Chile	Héctor Cárdenas, artist paint, buttons on fabric

Gerardo Mattson, artist paint on fabric	Gabriela Mancilla, artist, with quilt paint on fabric

Catalina Mayanz, artist detail of painting on board	María Aguilar, artist painting on fabric

Lenka Guisande, principal artist from Cruz del Sur, at work on painted suitcase

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