Four Artists You Need to Know

I was given the most extraordinary gift last week.  It is a stunningly beautiful plate.  When my friend told me that it was made by her brother-in-law, I was moved.  When she told me that he was a very successful artist who happens to have Downs Syndrome, I teared up.  When we learn of individuals who excel at an art form, a business endeavor, a personal goal, it inspires each of us to pursue our own goals.  It inspired me to look at my son’s strengths in a new light.  What will he share with the world?

Here is an article by Kelle Hampton on 4 artists you need to know.  What a gift.

I’ve been meaning to share some beloved new artists I’ve discovered and thought Down Syndrome Awareness Month would be a great time to introduce a few of them. There are many young moms of children with special needs who are blogging, clubs for kids with special needs, volunteers who are happy to give time to children because children elicit all the good feels. I’ve never felt short of support in the five years we’ve had Nella. While there are still challenges and many fight for more inclusion and special needs support in educational settings for children, I think most parents of older children would admit that they felt more support and found more opportunities for their kids when they were younger. When the training wheels of the school system are removed from students with special needs who are transitioning into adulthood, that’s often the time when families feel a gaping hole of need. Like anyone else, these friends of ours want a thriving social life, fulfilling jobs, opportunities to travel, contribute to their communities and create a meaningful life. With the extra challenges they face, these things so many of us take for granted often become difficult to achieve.

This is one of the reasons why the mission of Ruby’s Rainbow has become so near and dear to my heart. If we can bridge that gap, provide more learning opportunities, facilitate in any way we can to increase the chance of employment and independent living so adults with special needs can have the most fulfilling life possible, that gaping hole of need closes a bit more.

One more way we can address this need is in shifting our consumer habits. We flip through catalogues, search websites, browse shops and scan Etsy for gifts, pretty things for home and art for our walls. If we transferred that buying over to artists with special needs who depend on selling a few pieces a month to help pay for apartment rent or groceries or dinner out with a friend–money that makes them recognize the importance of their contribution in the world? Then we’ve completed a circuit. Full circle, everybody wins.

I was texting some of these pictures of art over to my friend Liz from Ruby’s Rainbow last night, and she texted back: Maybe some of this art will be from our own kids someday. Can you imagine someone seeing a piece and saying, “Is that a Nella Hampton?”

Yes, I can imagine that. I can absolutely imagine the possibilities for my child to be a famous artist because A: Art is limitless, and B: Nella is limitless.

So please. If you have a wall space in your home you’ve been searching for art for, if you have a sister with an upcoming birthday, if you’ve started your holiday shopping early and want something beautiful and meaningful, if you love switching out art in your kids’ rooms or your bedroom or the wall above your desk, would you take a look at these beautiful artists’ work? Buy something, display it, wrap it up and bestow it upon your best friend. Tell them the story behind it. Share the artist’s name when anyone asks where you found that gorgeous piece.

Continue reading more about the artists…