Judith Scott and Dan Miller participating in the 57th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia
Creative Growth Art Center is pleased to announce that two of its artists, Dan Miller and Judith Scott, were invited to participate in the 57th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. The inclusion of their work in “Viva Arte Viva,” curated by Christine Macel, marks a significant advancement for the presentation and appreciation of the work of artists with developmental disabilities in the contemporary art context. The Biennale Arte 2017 opens in Venice on May 13 and continues until November 26, 2017.
“Creative Growth would like to thank Christine Marcel for her vision and support of Dan and Judy’s work,” said Creative Growth Director Tom di Maria. “Judith Scott and Dan Miller’s path, from institutionalization and isolation to the highest recognition in contemporary art, is a magnificent story. And it’s also the story of Creative Growth. We believe that all people, regardless of their circumstance, can grow and prosper creatively with the right support.”
Creative Growth Art Center has been fostering creativity in artists with disabilities for over 40 years by providing a professional studio environment, gallery representation and exhibition, and a social atmosphere among peers at its Oakland-based center. Creative process is the heart of Creative Growth’s mission, resulting in empowered artists whose work is included in prominent collections, worldwide exhibitions, and, now, the Venice Biennale; this embrace by the contemporary art world speaks not only to the quality of work being made at Creative Growth, but also to a greater desire for personal, visceral, unmediated, and meaningful art.
Judith Scott (1943-2005) created colorful, complex, multi-media textile sculpture during her 17 years at Creative Growth. Crafting armatures from discarded materials, Judith wrapped her forms with knotted cloth, yarn, thread, wire, and paper towels. There was no boundary in terms of material; if she could wrap it, Judith would incorporate it into her work. Judith’s work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Collection de l’Art Brut, Switzerland, The American Folk Art Museum, New York, and the Museum of Everything, London. The first comprehensive retrospective of her work was exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum in 2014 and is traveling nationally and internationally. Watch a short video of Judith in the studio here.
Dan Miller (b. 1961) produces work comprised of letters and words that are repeated and overdrawn to create layered masses that seem to hover on the page. Working in a variety of media, including ink, pencil, felt pen, paint, ceramic, wood sculpture, and printmaking, Miller’s work contains the written record of his obsession with objects such as light bulbs, electrical sockets, food, and the names of cities and people. Dan has had solo exhibitions at Ricco Maresca, New York, Diane Rosenstein Gallery, Los Angeles, and White Columns, New York and participated in group shows at Gavin Brown’s enterprise, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, The Museum of Everything, London, and ABCD, Paris. His work is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Berkeley Art Museum, the Collection de l’Art Brut, Lausanne, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Watch Dan Miller making his work here.
For further information, please visit: Creative Growth Art Center at www.creativegrowth.org 57th International Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia at labiennale.org
Media Contacts: Jessica Daniel: jessica@www.creativegrowth.org 510.836.2340 x20 Tom di Maria: tom@www.creativegrowth.org 510.836.2340 x13