Disabled Modesto-area people develop into top-notch artists

By LISA MILLEGAN
lmillegan@modbee.com

last updated: May 30, 2008 06:36:52 AM

The paintings that developmentally disabled artists produce are good enough to be shown in museums, according to a Modesto art instructor.

Carole Cameron, who teaches at Howard Training Center, which serves developmentally disabled adults, proves her point with slide-show presentations to service clubs. She defies anybody to tell the difference between some of her students' abstract work and that of acclaimed modern artists such as Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning.

Her talented clients are the subject of the locally produced documentary "Inner Eye," which premiers tonight at the State Theatre. The 35-minute film, created by Modesto's Never Boring Design, profiles the artists and their families and shows the creative process.

Some of the artists, such as Jocelyn Breshears and Kim Porter, have regular collectors. Over the past eight years, roughly 80 artists at the center have sold a combined 75 paintings ranging from $50 to $300 apiece.

Claudia K. Miller, executive director of Howard Training Center, brought in Cameron to start the art program because she wanted her clients to have an outlet for their talent.

"I was just totally amazed at the quality of work that a number of these individuals produced and have been thrilled to see them blossom as actual artists with people collecting their work, calling and asking, 'Does this person have any other art?' " she said. "Hopefully, this will lead to some careers in art for these individuals."

There is a collecting craze for "outsider art," the term used for works produced by people outside the normal channels of major galleries or universities, Cameron said.

Because most of the developmentally disabled artists can't sign their names, they mark their work with stamped symbols. Some of the proceeds from sales go to the artists, with the remainder going toward the purchase of art supplies. Cameron said that to continue receiving Social Security payments, each artist can earn only so much money.

She said her students work in watercolor and oils and make collages.

"They get so excited doing it," she said. "They like looking at each other's art. They're very critical, too."

Because the artists' verbal skills are limited, Cameron comes up with the titles for their art. Works that will be shown at today's reception include "Parisian Park," "Water Lilies," "Sale Day at Tiffany's," "Final Trumpet" and "Daybreak at Normandy."

David Boring, owner of Never Boring Design, said he became intrigued with the artists when his company put together an art calendar of their work.

"We wanted to publicize this more because it's really a great inspirational story to watch these people," he said. "They're overlooked and you don't realize they have a lot to offer. There's a lot of creativity there."

Bee arts writer Lisa Millegan can be reached at lmillegan@modbee.com or 578-2313.

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