On my recent trip to Washington DC, I had the opportunity to visit Art Enables, an art gallery, studio and vocational program committed to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to create and market their original artwork. Established in 2001, Art Enables works with artists who experience a wide range of developmental and cognitive disabilities, as well as mental health challenges. Its huge studio space showcases an extraordinary range of works in a variety of media created by the largely self-taught artists who have found a home in Art Enables. The image featured above, Tribal Visit, is one of the many narrative-driven works fashioned with watercolor and markers by Nonja Tiller. Several more artworks created by Art Enables artists follow:
Egbert “Clem” Evans, Train Station, Watercolor and marker on paper
Gary Murrell, Murky Waters, Mixed media
Raymond Lewis, Scotland, Watercolor and marker on paper
Payman Jazini, Happy Greetings, Mixed media on paper
Located at 2204 Rhode Island Avenue NE, the Art Enables gallery is open Mon-Fri: 9am – 4pm and the first two Saturdays of each month: 9am – 5pm. It will be closed for vacation beginning December 23 through January 1,
Photos of images: Lois Stavsky
