Tom di Maria presentation at Te Papa

Tom di Maria presentation at Te Papa

“Given the chance, people with disabilities can become outstanding contemporary artists of our time,” says Tom di Maria, Director of the Creative Growth Art Centre in Oakland, California.

Tom will be talking about the role of the centre and its collaborations with the professional arts sector at an event at Te Marae in Te Papa, Wellington, with the support of Arts Access Aotearoa.  This is a free public event from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday 25 August.

The Creative Growth Art Centre is the world's oldest and largest art centre serving artists with disabilities. It is constantly building partnerships with professional artists, organisations and companies. At the moment it’s working with design company Kzo to design a new product line of clothing. Another recent partnership is with designer Marc Jacobs to produce a range of products for sale world-wide in Marc Jacobs stores.

“At Creative Growth, our aim is to ensure the work of artists with disabilities is seen for what it is: outstanding new work by contemporary American artists,” Tom says. To date, the centre has positioned more than 140 artists with disabilities in the top realm of the contemporary art world.

In June 2008, Tom founded Galerie Impaire, the centre’s non-profit gallery in Paris. Galerie Impaire exhibits the work of disabled artists, self-taught artists and contemporary artists from around the world. Earlier this year, Wellington artist, curator and academic Stuart Shepherd presented an exhibition of New Zealand art at the Paris gallery.

Following Tom di Maria’s presentation, Stuart Shepherd will talk about his experience of hosting a New Zealand stand at the New York Outsider Art Fair 2009 and curating the Galerie Impaire exhibition.

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