The unique art on display at the Gallery of Sea and Heaven, operated by Becoming Independent, is spreading to new locations this summer.
Becoming Independent is the largest nonprofit services provider for the North Bay’s disabled, and one of is primary programs is ArtWorks. Between the seven studios that ArtWorks manages and the Gallery of Sea and Heaven, participants in the program get many opportunities to express themselves and communicate what they may have difficulty otherwise conveying.
ArtWorks is now expanding its outreach and partnership efforts to other North Bay galleries and organizations for four concurrent shows: “Breaking Barriers: Bay Area Artists with Disabilities” at the Marin Community Foundation (June 14–Sept. 27; reception June 19, 4:30pm) features roughly 130 paintings and sculptures by patients with disabilities. The Sonoma County Museum hosts “Margins to Mainstream: Contemporary Artists with Disabilities” (June 15–Sept. 15; reception, June 15, 4pm), featuring Roger Warnecke and other artists. The Petaluma Arts Center hosts works from several disabled art programs in the area in the show “Undercover Genius: The Creative Lives of Artists with Disabilities” (July 12–Sept. 15; reception, July 13, 4pm).
ArtWorks also hosts a show at its own Gallery of Sea and Heaven titled “Hodge Podge” (June 22–Aug. 10; reception, June 22, 5pm), featuring mixed-media pieces in conjunction with the Barracks studios in Santa Rosa.
