Visual Arts - people with Down syndrome as subject and artist

People with Down syndrome have been participating in art since people began making art. Two young children with Down syndrome are currently the subject of very different pieces on exhibition in Sydney:

Local Eyes is an exhibition of photographs with a difference, created by United Way Sydney. "It's a chance for ... budding photographers to present their unique perspective of Sydney, and for United way supporters to better understandhow others who face significant challenges see their world." Click on "View and Vote" to see thumbnails of all of the photos - at the lower right is Persia Burrows' photo of herself and her brother Tyler, who has Down syndrome. Click on the thumbnail for a enlargement, and the story of how the photo came about. You can vote for it too.

Daniela Mousa's Year 12 artwork confronting attitudes to people with disability will be on exhibition from 4 - 24 April in the Art Expressed show at Ku-ring-gai Arts Centre in Sydney's north. She has incorporated images of Angela, who has Down syndrome into an installation questioning judgements and behaviour. Click here for an article and photograph from the Northside Courier.

Some other interesting visual arts links:

• Down Syndrome NSW web page on visual arts


• Accessible Arts is the place to keep up with arts and disability news in NSW


• Gallery ARTES showcasing the work of artists with disabilities, is a project of Studio ARTES Northside Inc. - a community-based, not-for-profit organisation in Hornsby (NSW)


• Creative Growth is the Californian art studio that fostered the acclaimed work of the late Judith Scott

Dragon, DGC, Studio ARTES 2006