Sophie's Gallery Presents: Paperworks

One of three art galleries run by St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, a nonprofit organization for adults with developmental disabilities, is presenting a selection of works from artists at a similar organization in Japan. A public reception for the exchange show will be held on August 6 from 5pm to 8pm.

Sophie’s Kensington Gallery is staging Paperworks, the creative products of artists living and working at Vansanku-no-sato Center, a social welfare facility in Osaka, Japan. The instructor who guides the art activities at that facility, Midori Ohara, is traveling to San Diego along with two of her fellow instructors, to attend the reception. In November, a selection of works from the artists at St. Madeleine Sophie’s will be displayed in Osaka as part of their Autumn Festival.

Both centers have discovered that their residents, though challenged with developmental disabilities, possess an “untapped wealth of talent.” The student artists at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center express themselves through vibrant works on canvas, wood, glass and other media. Their pieces have been exhibited and sold at venues around the world. Participating in these creative outlets provides emotional rewards too. Ohara says that when residents at the Vansanku-no-sato Center are making art, “they feel relaxed sitting together and enjoy the process.”

Paperworks will run from August 6 to 31 at Sophie’s Kensington Gallery located at 4186 Adams Avenue in San Diego.

For more information, call Sophie's Kensington Gallery: (619) 654-3679