Starlight Studio and Art Gallery provides an open-art studio environment with individualized guidance, goal setting, technical assistance, demonstrations, and critiques for the cultivation of artistic expression with people who have disabilities. It is the strong belief of the staff at Starlight that much is gained through the creative artistic process. Not only are visual art skills acquired or developed, the person makes intellectual, emotional and sometimes financial gains as a result of making art. Through, but not limited to, art exhibitions, public presentations, visits to museums and artists’ studios and community collaborations, participants have the opportunity to broaden their experiences and interface with the public as artists.

Since opening in August 2005 in the burgeoning arts hub of downtown Buffalo, Starlight Studio has had many successful exhibitions in the Starlight Gallery featuring the work of its participants. In addition to the exhibits of Starlight’s work, two other local agencies (Aspire of WNY and People, Inc.) have exhibited art work, as has artists from the Buffalo community, Cynnie Gaasch, Gina Sherwood and William Y. Cooper. In the summer of 2006, Starlight created weavings outdoors with visiting artist, Jozef Bajus, which remained on display on a downtown thoroughfare throughout the summer. Starlight has also had several off-site exhibits in its short history: Art Dialogue Gallery, Betty’s Restaurant, Café 59 and Globe Market.

Starlight Studio and Art Gallery is a program created by the LearningDisabilities Association of Western New York (LDAofWNY) with funding from the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) under the New York State Options for People Through Services (NYS-OPTS) Initiative. Within this day program model, artists at Starlight work with professional artists. They have the opportunity to create or work with a variety of materials and techniques. Painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramic sculpture, fiber arts and multi-media work is available to all.

To find out more information about becoming an artist at Starlight, contact us at 716.842.1525 or email starlight@starlightstudio.org or write 340 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202.