SkillQuest art show approaches

By Laine M. Rutherford

Correspondent

VIRGINIA BEACH

Douglas Allred's collage begins simply: a few pictures clipped from magazines, pasted onto a piece of colored construction paper.

Where he takes the collage however, will be far from its original state.

As he has with pieces in the past, Allred will add layers of colored tissue paper to his themed work, accentuating color and adding texture.

Examples of Allred's artwork will be on display Wednesday during the 13th annual SkillQuest Art Show at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia.

SkillQuest, a day activity program for Virginia Beach adults with developmental disabilities, is part of the city's Department of Human Services Mental Retardation Division.

Allred, who works on his craft at the d'Art Center in Norfolk, may choose to paint his collage, or add a coat of glue to give it a glossy sheen.

Finally, it will be framed, confirming Allred's work as art.

Several hundred pieces of art by SkillQuest participants will be part of the show.

"There's a kind of innocence and beauty, a genuineness that shines through the art," said Marion Bloomfield, SkillQuest clinician and art therapist.

"This show is about success - it demonstrates our consumers' abilities and their gifts and is something durable. They've come up with art that's pretty and neat and different."

Art is evident on every wall and in every room at the SkillQuest Center off of Independence Boulevard between Mount Trashmore and Edwin Drive. Pottery fills shelves, sculptures decorate tables, paintings hang beside collages and a variety of prints and mosaics.

Art classes take place on-site, as well as at the Contemporary Art Center and at the d'Art Center.

"We do a lot of art and enrichment projects, but it's not just busy work," Bloomfield said.

"It involves sensory input and sensory integration and motor skills. We have all levels of consumers and our goal is to help each person grow, have fun, become more independent and enjoy life."

Bloomfield and SkillQuest's other art therapists have culling through the hundreds of pieces of individual and group artwork created throughout the year.

"It's hard to pick which ones to take," said art assistant Danny Hart. "Some are just so good - I want to get them all in.

"The show is cool, really visually overwhelming in a great way."

In the past, SkillQuest has held an art auction of participants' work at a different location than the show. This year, the silent auction will be held during the artists' reception at the Contemporary Art Center.

Individual artists get money from the sale of their pieces; sales of group pieces go toward the SkillQuest Art Fund.

Taking a break from painting a large papier mache Buddha at the d'Art Center during a recent class, SkillQuest artist Andy Baldwin said he is excited about seeing his work in the show.

"It makes me feel great," said Baldwin, who works at Sugar Plum Bakery in Virginia Beach. "Because I am an artist."

Laine Mednick Rutherford, Laine.R@cox.net