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Individuals in the metro Detroit area who have an intellectual or developmental disability and are interested in art, fashion or fashion design are encouraged to participate in an ongoing course at the Detroit College for Creative Studies.
The nine-week “Fashion Friday and Wearable Art” course, which began on July 8, is being offered by CCS in partnership with Gesher Human Services (formerly JVS + Kadima), a non-profit organization’s multi-disciplinary arts program at Creative Expressions.
Students in the program are elective participants in the Creative Expressions program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All Creative Expressions program concepts are completely based on the needs of the participants, says program director Craig Nowak.
“A lot of participants showed interest and talked about fashion,” Nowak said. “The staff pushed the idea to me and I met with our partners at CCS.”
The courses are being taught by CCS Community Arts Partnership Chief Staff Artist Joey Offey. Participants can sign up for as many classes as they want to participate in. So far, the classes have taken eight to 12 students, with hopes of reaching 30 by the end of the program.
“We want to encourage creativity with a focus on fashion for our constituents and partnering with professional artists at CCS gives us the perfect opportunity to do just that,” said Nowak. “Designing clothes and accessories is a unique way to express your style and we know it gives our members confidence and pride while learning the skills of self-expression.”
Featuring a new outfit or accessory every week, the overall theme is African inspired designs and patterns. So far, participants have been able to design and create hats and sweaters or shirts.
“There are many fabrics in Africa with patterns and colors that have been used for thousands of years,” said Larry Lunsford, assistant director of the CCS Education and Community Arts Partnership. “You should see the smiles of the participants as they pass the course.”
Clothes are fitted to the artist’s measurements so they can be worn after the program is over.
This is the first fashion and wearable art class that Gesher has hosted at CCS. In the coming weeks, students are scheduled to make bags, purses, necklaces, wristbands, anklets and elbow bracelets from leather, leather shoes and Adinkra symbols from Ghana, Africa.
At the end of the ninth week of the course, participants have the opportunity to participate in a fashion show to showcase their work.
Sally Greco, a member of the Choices program, has always admired art and was excited to sign up for the class.
She is in a wearable art class where she works on a new project every week. Her favorite part so far is making a decorative headdress.
“I love art,” Greco said. “I have a big book called ‘1001 Pictures You Must See Before You Die’ about artists and their biographies that I love.”
Earlier, Greco learned to make pillowcases from her mother and loved to draw in gescher at the polls.
“Students show pride in their work by wanting to share their completed artwork with others in the classroom and at home,” Lunsford said.
Creative Expressions programs are offered throughout the year, including ongoing music programming with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, theater programming with Matrix Theater Company, and dance programming with the Detroit Opera House.
For more information about Gesher Human Services, visit jvshumanservices.org. For more information about Creative Expressions, Gesher’s program, visit shopcreativeexpressions.com.
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