CORE 2021
CORE: Defining Ourselves is a longstanding annual tradition of Able ARTS Work. Beginning in 2005, with the first ever CORE exhibition at the George V. Deneff Gallery in Long Beach, Able ARTS Work has built an art community that celebrates creatives not only across the nation but the globe. This annual juried exhibition has grown and evolved through the years to include artists of all abilities, exhibitions at venues across the Los Angeles area, and ADA components to create a fully accessible and inclusive showcase of the arts. As we look back on the past 16 years of CORE, itβs time to transform our traditional format with an exciting reinterpretation of this iconic exhibition.
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Participating community artists from the LA art scene were invited to create a collaborative body of work with our resident artists over the course of several months in 2019-2020. Disability influencer Lolo Spencer and AAW resident artist Brian Corder were invited to co-curate solo artwork by artists, further integrating the element of community collaboration into the curation process and the exhibition. This multi-dimensional community exhibition originally had been planned to open at Bergamot Station in May 2020. The world came to a screeching halt in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe forcing a total shut down. The future of CORE became uncertain; all plans were put on an indefinite hold.
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In early 2021, the exhibitions team began to piece the show back together little by little with hopes of sharing the original message of community and collaboration with a world in desperate need. Although everything seemingly stopped the past year, time had continued on - through the process of putting the show together changes arose. Changes in venue, in artist participation, in curation, and of artwork included. Although the journey involved some unexpected changes, the essence of this exhibition has not. CORE 2021 is the culmination of this journey. This exhibition explores the praxis of collaboration and community, highlighting the unique creative relationships built every day through the artistic process. As past CORE shows have established a passionate art scene inclusive of all abilities, we build upon that strong foundation to bring these revolutionary ideas to a broader audience. CORE 2021 aims to unify the larger LA art scene with a narrative on the power of community and the need for continued collaboration among our greater society. The relationships formed between all participating artists is as much a part of the exhibition as the physical artworks created from these collaborative explorations. This evolved exhibition redefines what it means to work together in the contemporary art world in the midst of a global pandemic and beyond. Able ARTS Work acknowledges and celebrates the process of artmaking and growing creatively as an arts community. We invite our audience to think about the connection between the practice of collaboration and how this translates into making our communities more inclusive, accessible, and unified.
LOVE
COMMUNITY
STRENGTH
BEAUTIFUL
ENLGHTENING
ENCHANTING
FAMILIA
I LIKE IT A LOT
HOPE
CREATIVITY
TOGETHER
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The Beginning
Jesus Quiroz (left) &
Leonardo Moleiro (right)
The collaboration of Jesus Quiroz, a resident artist of the CECA studio in Hawthorne and Leonardo Moleiro, a Pasadena based artist, ignited the flame of inspiration for the annual CORE exhibition in 2020. The two were both participants of the Weekend Warrior Residency, hosted by Able ARTS Work (AAW) at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles in winter of 2019. During the residency, an AAW resident artist and community artist were selected to work side by side to provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas, skills, and a chance to learn from one another. Both artists were very dedicated to their work from the start of the residency. Every Saturday, both artists journeyed to San Pedro to work for several hours on solo and collaborative art works. Jesus chose to begin a garden themed series of drawings. He often completed his small nature studies in the gardens located at Crafted. Leo painted abstract geometric figures on canvas hanging on the studio walls. Each artist often would stop to check in on the other and provide critique, feedback, or a word of positive encouragement on works in progress. The culmination of their residency is a collaborative painting combining the geometric abstract shapes utilized by Leo into the organic garden landscape created by Jesus.
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This collaborative relationship did not end once the residency concluded. Both artists were asked to participate in CORE 2020 due to their successful artistic relationship and exemplary community collaboration. CORE 2020 was intended to highlight the importance of collaboration with the community. The artists took on a pen-pal style collaborative process due to distance. Jesus began paintings that Leo would pick up then complete. In the process of the pen-pal collaboration a mix up occurred with the artwork intended for Leo and artwork intended as solo pieces for Jesus. Then the COVID- 19 pandemic occurred turning everyoneβs world upside down. The exhibition, paintings, and collaboration were put on an indefinite hold. As CORE 2021 began to take form again, the exhibition team began to piece the various parts of the exhibition back together after more than a year. In this process a happy accident was revealed. Leo had unknowingly collaborated on Jesusβs personal artwork instead of the paintings originally intended for collaboration. Leo combined their styles in a way that honored Jesusβ artwork without overtaking it. He found the perfect balance to complement Jesus in this most unusual collaboration. This βhappy accidentβ exemplifies what the collaborative process is truly all about.
Check out the interview podcasts by ArtBeat Radio!
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CORE 2021 Episode 1
CORE 2021 Episode 2
Virtual Gallery Below
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Need a closer look? See below.
Jesus Quiroz & Leonardo Moleiro
Solo and collaborative work.
Me Gusta Food
An collaborative installation by Jazmin Urrea & EPI Studio Resident Artists
Carlos Arredondo & Jazmin Urrea
Solo and collaborative work.
Adam Caar
Developer
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Services
Our Organization
Since 1982, Able ARTS Work has played a significant role in providing meaningful day programming for adults with developmental disabilities. Using the creative arts as a tool to develop and strengthen social and developmental skills, our primary focus is to encourage and support artists with disabilities in their creative expression through inclusive community participation.
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As well as providing services to adults, with disabilities, Able ARTS Work offers a number of programs designed to meet the needs too the community, particularly underserved and marginalized communities. From health and wellness services to arts education and enrichment programs, each Able ARTS Work outreach program fosters and values contribution, accessibility, and engagement.
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Through creative enrichment programs, Able ARTS Work aims to foster inclusion through creativity, initiative and expression. We believe meaningful creative engagement happens when an individual, groups and the local community participate in an exchange of ideas, skills and cultural expression resulting in the development of a healthy and vibrant community.
Adult Day Programs & Transportation
EDUCATIONAL. VOCATIONAL. THERAPEUTIC.
Locations: Long Beach, Hawthorne, San Diego and Virtual
Population Served: Adults with developmental disabilities β¨
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Regional Centers Vendorization: Westside Regional Center, Harbor Regional Center, San Diego Regional Center (courtesy), Orange County Regional Center (courtesy), Inland Regional Center (courtesy)
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Adult clients receive daily, yearlong services to support individual social and developmental goals. Through a tailored evidence based methodology, clients participate in full time courses to meet their goals.
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Special Programming: Artbeat Radio, 1:1 therapeutic sessions, performance opportunities
Community Engagement
Mobile Arts
Program
Locations: Virtual, In-Home South Bay and San Diego
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Recent Partnerships: Westside Regional Center and San Diego Regional Center
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Population Served: Adults with Developmental Disabilities
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To provide tailored in home or virtual creative arts therapy and education to improve quality of life, improve adaptive skills as well as a bridge to the community
Creative Health & Wellness Clinic
Locations: Virtual, Long Beach & South Bay
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Population Served:: Students 3 to 18 years old with disabilities and/or other emotional challenges
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Through 10 to 12 week or long-term music and art therapy services, students receive one-on-one or group sessions designed to build and improve social and emotional skills, speech and communication, and motor skills
Accessible Arts Workshops
Locations: Virtual, Schools and Community spaces throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties
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Population Served: K to 12 students with and without disabilities
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10 to 12 week programs provide standards based arts education featuring social emotional learning as a key component of the program
Exhibitions
Department
Locations: Virtual, Los Angeles County and Orange County and beyond
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Goal: To provide professional skills training and income earning opportunities for artist with and without disabilities
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Population Served: Artists with and without disabilities
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Exhibitions are held at our two Long Beach galleries—the AAW Gallery and the Deneff Gallery—as well as community and professional spaces, showcasing artists with and without disabilities together to promote inclusion and expand visibility for underrepresented artists.
Self Determination
The California statewide Self-Determination Program is a voluntary alternative to the traditional services funded by the regional centers. The SDP is being developed by the Department of Developmental Services to allow participants to have more control selecting their desired and neccessary services and supports. Participants (or their parents or legal representatives) are given a specific budget to purchase the services and supports that they need to make their person-centered plan work better for them.
Able Arts Work is prepared and excited to support this program and fundamentally believe in the program's five principles:
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Freedom (to plan a good life)
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Authority (over your personal resources)
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Support (for building a life in the community)
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Responsibility (and pride in making your own decisions)
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Confirmation (of the important role you play)
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Contact us to learn more about how Able ARTS Work can be part of your desired schedule.β
Artbeat Radio
Artbeat Radio is social media and broadcasting program that fosters creativity, connection, and our client’s unique voices. Working together, the student-comprised staff of ABR brainstorm different multimedia experiences, each of which explore a different topic. Students enjoy creating many different types of pieces, including video, original songs or poetry, podcasts, and more! The goal of Artbeat Radio is to explore the myriad ways in which the students of Able ARTS Work can make their unique voices heard by engaging the ever-expanding virtual world.
You can enjoy the weekly podcast on the following sites:
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Instagram: @artbeatradio
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Virtual Services
Able ARTS Work’s adult day services and Mobile Arts Program offer virtual and telehealth options, including live Zoom and video sessions, led by the same instructors and therapists clients work with in person. These sessions continue to build on individual skills and goals while maintaining a supportive environment centered on creativity and self-expression. Designed to bring the creative experience of our programs into the home, virtual services help clients stay connected to their peers and community while supporting consistency, comfort, and overall well-being.
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From full & part day creative classes to 1:1 theurapeutic services, both Adult Day Programming and Mobile Arts Programs are currently offered Monday through Friday virtually. Services are funded through Westside Regional Center, Harbor Regional Center, Inland Regional Center, Orange County Regional Center, and San Diego Regional Center.
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Check out our YouTube channel for prerecorded virtual learning videos created by our incredible staff!
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To start the enrollment process, please contact us.
