Art & The Self Exhibition

Art and the Self, an exhibition of artwork by artists from Gateway’s Studio A, juried by Wendy Tarlow Kaplan, opens Monday, September 10th, and will remain on view through Saturday, November 3rd, 2018.

“Self, or identity, is the sum of so many things, but for me: emotions and experiences that shape an innermost core. What I have tried to do in my art generally is to use that core of myself as the foundation for expression, exploration, adventure, reflection, challenge.” — Kathleen Wells, Gateway Artist

“The Gateway Gallery exhibition Art and the Self, juried by Wendy Tarlow Kaplan, is comprised of work by artists from Gateway’s Studio A, where artists with psychiatric disabilities, head injuries, and others work. Some Studio A artists have art school degrees, or if self taught, their work appears more like work from the contemporary mainstream art world. From its inception in 1997, Studio A is a place where artists with psychiatric disabilities have the opportunity to build an identity as an artist without the constraints and stigma of disability.

Art and the Self features and celebrates the work and artists of Studio A, and the achievements possible when using art as a vehicle to create a new self. Their approach and practice is like that of any artist. They grapple with formal issues of composition, color, design, and content. They share their work and ideas and give each other feedback. Their goal is to be professional working artists, and their success is evident. We congratulate them and the Studio A staff for their focus, determination, and perseverance toward the goal of adding their voices to the world of art.”

— Stephen De Fronzo, Artistic Director, Gateway Arts

This exhibition was supported in part by a grant from the Brookline Commission for the Arts, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.