Five year-old Starlight still shining bright

By Joyce Kryszak

Buffalo, NY –

Buffalo is home to some of the finest art museums you'll find anywhere. From the Albright Knox and the Burchfield to a host of smaller galleries and studios. But there is one studio that stands out not only for the exquisite art that's produced there, but also for the service it provides to a special community of artists. For five years, Starlight Studios on Delaware has offered people with developmental disabilities a chance to shine.

Visual artist and budding poet Janet Harrison knows a little about being a shining star, although you might not guess that when you first meet her. Bunches of curly blond hair nearly hide her bright, round pink cheeks. And her eyes squint as she shifts from one foot to another, while she whispers a question.

"Do you want to hear my poetry?" asked Harrison. "The stars don't belong in jars. They belong in the sky where they can shine. You put a star in a jar and it loses it's luster. Because stars don't belong in jars. they belong in the sky where they can shine."

For Harrison and others with developmental disabilities, the jar that keeps them from shining is the public's perception of who they are. But at Starlight there are no stereotypes - just possibilities.

"What about pumpkins for Halloween...If you need help all you got 'ta do is ask one of these staff people here....Stories and art meshed in together as one. Very interesting in my own sort of way."

That was Kimber Rodgers, John Gordon and Saeed Dubaishi talking about how they're creating art at Starlight. There are currently 42 adults with developmental disabilities who come to the open studio to work in a variety of media with guidance from professional artists.

Marc Hennig is Deputy Executive Director for Learning Disabilities Association of Western New York. It is the parent organization for Starlight. Hennig said Starlight is modeled after a similar studio in California.

"As a young social worker out of grad school I walked into one of these places, an open studio. And I went, wow, this isn't like any other place I've ever been before," said Hennig.

He said what makes Starlight so special is the freedom it gives people with disabilities to evolve as artists and people. Hennig said because of the challenges of working with this special population, they do need to set rules to keep things running smoothly. But he said there are no rigid lessons or pre-determined projects.

The artists pick their own media, create their own designs, and even decide the price tag for any pieces they decide to sell. Over time, Hennig said you can see visible progress in both their art and their intellectual and emotional development.

"It's elevated in ways that they haven't had the opportunity - or life hasn't afforded them that opportunity before," said Hennig.

And it shows in the work they're creating. The contemporary gallery walls are covered with some of the most beautiful, detailed - and distinctive artwork you'll ever see. There's everything here from paintings and sculpture to collage and weaving and just about anything in between.

"This is a painting. I do dolls, I do some art and weaving," said Chandler. "It's pretty much unbeweavable. yeah, it leaves you in stitches."

Doll maker and painter Paul Chandler is one of the studio's most prolific artists. And obviously a master punster. Chandler proudly shows off his latest project. It's a painting that jumps off the canvas in shimmering shades of purples and aquas, iridescent blues and yellows. Gem-studded fish and other sea creatures meander amid abstract shapes.

Starlight Studios Director Carrie Marcotte looks on smiling. Marcotte said Chandler's amazing artistic achievements are typical for Starlight's artist participants.

"They definitely get a lot of satisfaction, self-esteem from making this art," said Marcotte. "And I think that the freedom has a lot to do with that too. You know, really being able to take this line where they want to take it, or mixing materials together that you don't see a lot of kind of traditionally trained artists mixing together."

And this is not just art work that's interesting and beautiful. It has value. Starlight's dollmaker and favorite punster Paul Chandler regularly sells his work for as much as $100 each. Chandler said he's grown as an artist and a person during his five years coming to Starlight. He said they offer opportunities that were long over due.

"There was a time when people with developmental disabilities never got to do stuff like this. They were locked away in institutions, where they were treated like animals," said Chandler. "Willow Brook was an infamous example. Thank God it shut down because people finally realized, hey, we do have something to contribute. We are people, first and foremost. And that's the most important thing."

The studio is open to any adult artists in the region with developmental disabilities. However, they must referred to Starlight through the Learning Disabilities Association of Western New York and meet Medicaid waiver eligibility requirements. The only other thing that's needed is a strong desire to create art in a community of friends.

You can meet the artists and see their work Friday night when Starlight celebrates its 5th anniversary with a party and art sale. It runs from 7:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M. The event - featuring food, music, art and poetry reading - is free and open to the public. More information is available at Starlight Studios.