431 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Saturday, December 8 at 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Ends Jan 12, 2019
The Downtown Art Center (DAC) Gallery is pleased to present the exhibition
“Embracing – To reach out; to draw close; to accept ideas or people openly”, the third annual
collaboration between artists and designers from the Creative Action Program at Otis College of Art and
Design and the Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF) Art Center Westside, a program that mentors
adult artists with developmental disabilities.
Embracing is the culmination of blending processes and ideas between ECF Art Center Westside and
undergraduate students enrolled in Otis College’s Uniquely Abled course taught by Michele Jaquis and
Marlena Donohue. Jaquis, Otis College Faculty and Director of Otis Interdisciplinary Studies, conceived
of this class in order to expose students to the discourse and art practices reflecting changing ideas
regarding difference and inclusion.
Over the course of 13 weeks, the collaborative groups of artists shared work space and conversations,
exchanged materials and processes, and ultimately produced mixed-media paintings, drawings,
sculptures, and toy designs. The works on view are the result of fluid, imaginative interactions between
two groups of creative thinkers from a variety of artistic interests and cognitive capacities, all expressing
and exploring art as equals. This year we are pleased to announce that in addition to Otis and ECF
student work, this exhibition will include artwork by the remarkable teachers – all exhibiting arts
professionals and one Otis alumna – who support these artists each and every day.
Embracing coincides with the celebration of Otis College of Art and Design’s 100th year as an
intellectually stimulating, technically rigorous, and community centered arts college. The Uniquely Abled
course is part of the Otis College Creative Action program, directed by Richard Shelton as an on-going,
ground-breaking series of interdisciplinary classes linking art and design education to real-world
experiences that enhance the missions of community partners.
Participating Artists/Designers: James Basilio, Josh Burwell, Eddie Cole, Sunny Chung, Darran
Daughty, Somin Eom, Jess Fields, Maria Laura Hendrix, Palente Henry, Killian Hu, Michele Jaquis,
Sultan Jamjoom, Heather Kim, Youjin Kwo, Chris Lee, Cara Lavine, Miranda Maynard, Juan Carlos
Ornelas, Robbie Rabei, Lily Ramirez, Diana Rodriguez, Sung Il Roh, Blake Roten, Marvin Singer, Vickie
Uyeda, Mirim Yoon, Amy Zafman