TURNERS FALLS — The water was a beautiful azure blue and the sands a soft white. The mountain range that sat in the background is his favorite place in the world.
“It brings memories of family and friends together,” Francis Campbell said. “This is why I thought of doing this.”
The painting of Hawaii was displayed prominently in the gallery as Campbell was explaining his work to anyone who took the time to come by The United Arc event on Thursday evening to celebrate Intellectual Disabilities Awareness Month.
“That’s my favorite thing,” Campbell said. “Showing everyone. Showing my true work.”
It was the first time that The United Arc hosted a gallery of the work of its members in recent years. People had the opportunity to show off their artwork as members of the community walked through the event and learned about the organization’s efforts to provide services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The nonprofit recently has made a push to help branch the gap between its members and the community at large.
“One of the most important things about the people we have the privilege of working with is that they have so many talents that their friends and neighbors don’t necessarily know about it,” Executive Director Lynne M. Bielecki said.
In prior years The United Arc has spotlighted the art work of another member, Katherine Johnson, which has been sold at their annual gala and noted in publications, in addition to her silver medal in bocce in the 2016 Special Olympics.
“Since Katherine’s story was out there I couldn’t go anywhere with everyone saying I do this and I do that,” Bielecki said.
So the organization decided to spotlight more of its members’ talents at the Thursday open gallery.
“We all have a lot in common,” Director of Adult Services Brian Ross said. “To me what’s important about this is we celebrate what we have in common and not our differences.”
James McNeil showed not only his sketchbook, including a spot on drawing of a Wright brothers plane, but also his intricate board game based on Sasquatch. Ross mentioned they submitted the game to Hasbro and are waiting to hear back. The game includes fun facts on Sasquatch covering the back of the board.
“I do my art once in a great while,” McNeil said, adding he also spends his time studying science and history and currently is reading about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Mary Fernsebner displayed her painting of a red-orangey sky with branches in the foreground and two birds resting upon one of the branches. She highlighted that it seems they’re arguing even though that wasn’t the original intention. In addition to playing music and her screen printing job at Valley Tees, she loves to do art.
“It gives me freedom to express myself,” Fernsebner said.
Johnson encouraged everyone to try to paint, too.
“I wish they could go out there and try it,” Johnson said. “Put your full gut into it.”