Creative Hands Craft Masterpieces

March 3, 2025
• Art offers a canvas on which to express a feeling or an idea that words can’t. For people with disabilities, that opens up a whole new world.

Whether with a paint brush, glue stick, scissors or pencil, artists at the Charles River Center showcased their talent for the Creative Hands Art Show on Sunday. The nearly 200 artworks on display were all for sale, with proceeds benefiting the center.

Beaming students guided their parents and friends to their art around the room, excited to see their creations outside the center’s art classroom. Their works ranged from textured paintings, canvas bags, wood coasters, candles, clocks and sensory bottles — which are filled with glitter, buttons and other visually stimulating objects.

The Charles River Center serves residents with different developmental and medical needs through a community day program, habilitation and employment.

It’s the first time the center hosted an art show since the pandemic. Vice President of Development Hilary Ryan said students learn about various art mediums while working on a skill they may otherwise have not been able to.

“I think one of the benefits that we see with the art program is that it provides an opportunity for our individuals to be able to express themselves in a way that they may not be able to,” Ryan said, “and this is their avenue to do that.”

Angel Payen, a member of CRC community, walked to her own art pieces, some of which had already sold within the first hour of the show. Her abstract paintings garnered lots of eyes at the center of the room.

“I’m me, and I’m going to make art,” she said. “Everyone’s beautiful in their own way.”

Danelle Pitts leads the center’s art program, which has grown into a three-to-four day class each week. Her students — who she affectionately calls “my guys” — can channel their energy through art, which can lead to incredible things. She teaches 25-40 students each week.

When they’re having a tough day, Pitts encourages participants to “pour it out” and “leave all your troubles on the canvas,” she said. Art can be cathartic and relaxing, but inspiring, Pitts said.

While some students may gravitate toward coloring or other forms of self-expression, Pitts tries to challenge them with other mediums.

“I have them tap into a space within their heart where they would want to do a pour paint or actually draw something,” Pitts said. “It’s just a matter of getting them out of their comfort zone and realizing that they do have the ability to do more than what they are already doing.”

Artist Tiffany F. enjoyed exploring different art forms in preparation for the show, though she admitted she prefers painting. Her “Rain Drops” painting depicted an autumn leaf caught in a rainstorm.

When she’s painting, Tiffany said her anxiety lessens.

“Art calms me down,” she said. “I can really focus.”

Her classmates felt similarly. A book introducing each artist shared their own testimonials — one student said art allows her to have fun, while another views art as another way to create new things and show them to people.

“It makes me feel magnificent to do art,” one student said.

During the show, CRC staff moved through the crowd, sticking “sold” stickers on off-market pieces — many items moved quickly.

Yolette Ibokette excitedly walked her daughter Christa Bercy to each art display, searching along each wall for her name. Two artworks Ibokette hoped to buy had already sold, but she still called dibs on Christa’s creations, including a few posters.

Bercy has attended the center’s day program for about 15 years, Ibokette said, and they consider it a second home. Ibokette admired the talent and creativity in the room.

“She loves arts and crafts. It’s her favorite activity, I think, during the whole week of programming,” Ibokette said, with Bercy smiling by her side. “Clearly, she’s not alone.”

As the art program has garnered popularity since the pandemic, Pitts sees a need and desire to continue teaching it. “They just want to do art,” she said.

“Sometimes they’re having a bad day and they need an escape, so they come to the art room,” Pitts said. “And they just start creating masterpieces.”