Submissions sought for exhibit showcasing disabled artists

Courtesy photo/Kelie Hess

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Kelie Hess, who has been painting for more than 20 years, will submit some of her work for the upcoming 'Creating Voice Through Art' exhibit.

SALT LAKE CITY — An upcoming exhibit will showcase the work of disabled artists. Sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Commission for People with Disabilities, the exhibit will be held at the Sheraton Salt Lake City on April 24.

Formerly known as the St. Dymphna Art Exhibition, the exhibit in previous years featured the work of artists living with mental illness. This year, the show now known as “Creating Voice Through Art” is open to all artists who are challenged by any disability, physical or mental.

“We’re trying to expand it past just the Catholic Church, so we wanted to attract more people, and most people don’t know who St. Dymphna is,” exhibit organizer Monica Villar said.

“Creating Voice Through Art” will be held at the Sheraton the evening before the 2020 Diocesan Council of Catholic Women convention. In the past, the exhibit was held at the Magdalene Religious Goods and Coffee Grotto in Salt Lake City. Organizers felt holding the exhibit at the Sheraton and in conjunction with the DCCW convention this year could bring in a larger audience to experience the artists’ work, Villar said.

“Our goal is to try to do something every year that highlight the talents and abilities of people with disabilities, and an art exhibit is one great way to do it,” said commission member Carol Ruddell. “It’s a great opportunity for the artists themselves to share their talents. It’s also an opportunity for the community to see that and to recognize what beauty they bring to our world.”

One artist who plans to submit work for the exhibit is Kelie Hess, who was born with a genetic birth defect that requires her to use a ventilator and also a power wheelchair for mobility. A Utah State University project manager who helps young people with developmental disabilities, Hess has been painting in acrylic on canvas for more than 20 years.

“Painting is an outlet where I get to say things I can’t quite put into words,” Hess said. “The exhibit is just … a different opportunity to be a part of the art community in Utah.”

Commission for People with Disabilities Chair Cindi Vega, who is blind, also plans to have some pieces in the exhibit. Most of her art is crafts that people can touch and remember, she said.

“A lot of individuals with disabilities just don’t get heard any other way,” Villar said of the reason behind the exhibit. “There just seems to be this tendency to be attracted to art, all different forms of art, as a way they can be heard. So we just want those artists to be recognized and have those voices heard.”

“As somebody who works and advocates in this field, I just really think it’s important that we pay attention and allow people to express themselves in whatever way they can and appreciate the fact that they do,” she said. “So I do hope people will come out and look at the art and support it to let them know that their community is around them and behind them.”

Villar is an executive assistant at RISE, a nonprofit organization that provides services to people with disabilities, and writes a weekly advocacy column, “Their Voice,” for the Provo Daily Herald.

At the free exhibit, the public will have the opportunity to meet many of the artists, some of whom will have work for sale.

To participate in “Creating Voice Through Art” each artist can submit up to three pieces; entries must be submitted by March 2. There is no cost to participate in the exhibit. The exhibit space is big enough to accommodate a substantial amount of artwork, including large pieces, so Villar said most submissions will likely be accepted. For submission forms or information, contact Villar at (801) 372-7199 or monicavillar8@msn.com.