WVSA Second Visit

Today was wonderful at WVSA.  Jude was happy to see us and we were able to give him some good feedback on his thinking about his coming show.  I hope some of you will be able to come.  Jude let me work with Christopher as he was working on a landscape painting.  Christopher looks about 20 and wanted some direction for his painting.  I observed the type of direction Jude was giving him and then tried to continue this process with Christopher.  It was challenging to think about what type of instruction was appropriate.  I suppose this would get clearer over time as one would get to know students and their abilities.  So today as Christopher was working from a photograph I would help him mix paint and suggest to him a shape to make or a technique to use for stippling or a pattern for indicating flowers or grass.  What was most satisfying was Christopher's response to the instruction.  He was pleased with his own work and was happy for the company and input.  He was excited to tell me about a painting he had made and sold to his parents who were proud of all the work he had put in to that painting.  

So there is a wide range of functioning in the students here.  Some seem normal in their cognitive and verbal functioning but may be in a wheelchair while some don't really speak at all.  It would take a great deal of patience to work in this setting but I imagine it also carries with it great rewards.  These kids are amazing and really diligent in their efforts.  Jude is really just guiding them and giving them whatever support each of them need.  It would be nice to see him have a bigger and more organized facility but I think he's pretty happy there.  I could easily see myself working in this type of setting.