Jennifer, Kenneth and Terelle are among the HeartShare artists participating in the 12-week studio class at The Dedalus Foundation. In addition to a new thematic project for the week, each artist is building a portfolio of expressive sketches and collages.

HeartShare has partnered with Robert Motherwell’s Dedalus Foundation to make art education more accessible to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Twelve HeartShare individuals from Brooklyn Day Habilitation Program and Brooklyn Day Program and PACT (Partnering with Autistic CiTizens) Program are attending a 12-week workshop at the Foundation’s community-based art studio located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

The primary goal of the collaboration with Dedalus is to assist HeartShare artists in becoming part of the larger community in which they live. Through HeartShare’s existing ArtShare program, HeartShare program participants exhibit their multimedia work throughout the New York community.

Under the guidance of art educator Vida Sabbaghi, the artists have an opportunity to work on progressively more complex projects. “Since HeartShare program participants already have this rich background in artmaking and jewelry-making through ArtShare, we can build on and expand those skills,” explained Sabbaghi.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime. Many of our artists go through school with little or no opportunity to learn art skills. Self-exploration and expression through art is uplifting and life affirming,” said Barbara Nowak-Cuthel, ArtShare co-curator. The artists will display their work in a culminating exhibition at the Dedalus studio on Tuesday, April 4.

Artist Robert Motherwell created the Dedalus Foundation, which fosters public under­standing of modern art and modernist principles through a variety of educational programs following the artist’s belief that exposure to the arts greatly benefits individuals of all ages and abilities.

The Foundation’s Arts Education program involves a broad spectrum of educational initiatives, giving particular attention to promoting visual literacy for students on all levels, as well as for the general public. Most of the Foundation’s educational programs are operated at its facility in Sunset Park. This is the Foundation’s first program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

For more on the Dedalus Foundation, visit http://www.dedalusfoundation.org/.