ArtShare for HeartShare for artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities kicked off its 8th Annual season at NYU Tandon School of Engineering in downtown Brooklyn.

(Brooklyn, NY)–HeartShare Human Services launched its 8th Annual ArtShare for HeartShare season at NYU Tandon School of Engineering on Monday, September 26th.

Children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who participate in HeartShare programs, are the artists who create the exhibited works, including drawings, paintings, collages, photographs, prints and hand-crafted jewelry.

Under the leadership of HeartShare co-curators Barbara Cuthel and Edgardo Velez, the ArtShare committee frames, transports and sets up the art for each show.

Through ArtShare, individuals with developmental disabilities have found personal expression and inclusion in the New York community, which historically has excluded their voices and talents.

With the support of lobby space from NYU Tandon School of Engineering, National Grid, and Forest City Ratner Companies, our Brooklyn-based artists are reaching a wider audience within their own community.

Since its inception, the ArtShare season was launched at an Opening Reception at New Century Artists Gallery in Chelsea. Having their art displayed in a Manhattan gallery was an empowering experience for our individuals with disabilities.

HeartShare staff refused to deny our individuals that experience when the New Century gallery closed. As a result, HeartShare developed community partnerships to ensure that our individuals still had an artistic voice in the New York community through smaller lobby exhibits.

This year, HeartShare will proudly host its ArtShare Opening Reception at Central Booking at 21 Ludlow Street, Lower East Side on November 10.

For more information about the ArtShare program or purchasing one of our works, please call 718-422-3268.

“Our artists are as good or better than contemporary artists,” remarked co-curator Barbara Cuthel. This year’s ArtShare collection includes nearly 200 pieces, including this one by our artist Amoako B., who depicts the ladies of The View with President Barack Obama. Proceeds from sales support the ArtShare program, such as the purchase of supplies.

ArtShare Exhibition Dates:

Monday, September 26 – Friday, October 7

NYU Tandon School of Engineering

2 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Monday, October 10 – Friday, October 21

National Grid, 1 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Monday, October 24 – Friday, November 4

12 MetroTech Center Lobby, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Thursday, November 10, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

ArtShare Opening Reception

Central Booking, 21 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002

Thursday, November 10 – Saturday, November 20

Central Booking, 21 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002

Gallery Hours: Thursdays-Sundays, 12 – 6 p.m.