Louisville nonprofit reveals art work by adults with intellectual disabilities

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — More than two dozen people with intellectual and development challenges are dreaming big with artwork thanks to a Louisville nonprofit.

Dreams With Wings unveiled a new art exhibit at its building at 2202 Dundee Road in the Belknap neighborhood. The art centered around the Wild West was painted by the nonprofit’s adult clients as part of their arts and enrichment program.

“I try to make it like the Wild Wild West way out in the west,” Linda Wilcox said. “I wasn’t a fan of art really. But you get the feel of art and you just want to do more and more.”

Wilcox and dozen of other people are part of the Dreams With Wings art program.

“This is a very talented group, many of whom have won blue ribbons at the Kentucky State Fair,” Dreams With Wings Founder Jenifer Frommeyer said in a news release. “Our mission is to recognize the strengths of our individuals and help them to pursue their dreams. In doing so, they contribute to the Louisville community and show others we all have something valuable to contribute.”

Stacy Beisler, Dreams With Wings administrator, sees the importance of the program.

“Louisville is a big art town so it’s great that Dreams With Wings has really embraced that community aspect of knowing that we have so much background in art,” Beisler said. 

The new space, which was acquired in January, will house the art exhibit. It will allow for members of the program to express themselves.

“We have a lot of people who aren’t very verbal or they’ll see it one way or a certain way and then they will do this piece of art and you are like ‘woah, I didn’t know that was inside of them,'” Beisler said.

But the space isn’t just for artwork. The group also performed a short play before the art was revealed.

The group had been working on the play for weeks. Each person had their own role that they performed in front of family and friends.

Susan Hensley played the piano after she taught herself a song.

“Our art director will look and she tries to bring out the best in everybody and let them know that people want to come see what they did,” Beisler said.

The painting are available for sale and earning will go toward art supplies and a portion to the artists. 

To learn more about Dreams With Wings, click here

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