Shari Tobias (ACG ’11) completed a one month artist residency at Lower Merion Vocational Technical Center, or Creation Station, an arts facility serving adults with mental disabilities. Over 40 clients participated, creating papermache masks, exploring photography for the first time with disposable cameras and producing screen printed posters based on the photos and the masks that were all circus themed. A show of their work is on display at the center thru mid September.
Using the circus as a colorful and accessible theme to exercise ideas of exploring who we are and what we wish we could be, who we see ourselves as, or what would be a cool character to portray or be portrayed as, LMVTC clients built masks, and photographed themselves in and out of their creations. Wearable art sculptures allowed the models to play a different roles and mask certain insecurities and vulnerabilities. This process explored personal choice and self image, in a constructive way, helping this community to feel in control of their identity.
