Sean McCormick of Cherry Hill describes the Harry Potter shields he designed for the Y.A.L.E. School’s Fourth Annual Tri-State DisAbility Art Show, which was held in Cherry Hill in late April.
When life becomes stressful, Sean McCormick, 22, said art helps him cope.
"It helps me get away from the nerves," the Cherry Hill resident told 70and73.com as he looked at the shields with Harry Potter-themed designs he recently created. "I feel better when I make art and listen to music."
His mother, Julie McCormick, said that regardless of the type of art her son engages in, he usually has the same reaction.
"He has such a sense of satisfaction when he is done," Julie said. "Art really boosts his self-confidence."
Sean's artwork was among the hundreds of pieces from dozens of South Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware students on display during the Y.A.L.E. School's Tri-State DisAbility Art Show last last month at the school's performing arts center in Cherry Hill. The Y.A.L.E. School has several locations in South Jersey.
The winners' ribbon.
Karen Donnelly, a Y.A.L.E. art teacher and the show organizer, said students who had their work displayed were from one of the Y.A.L.E. School campuses in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Delaware school that offer the Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan.
"There were opportunities for kids with disabilities in this area to participate in sports, but there were not any real opportunities for kids with disabilities to show their art," Donnelly said about the show, which was established four years ago. "I felt it was really important for the community to have something like this. Events like this empower the participants."
Throughout the art show's opening night, students proudly posed for photos with their artwork. Many different media were on display, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, mixed media, photography, graphic design, mosaic and ceramic.
Kyle Gonzalez (center), Deanna Gonzalez (behind Kyle) and Sarah Milligan (on Deanna’s left), all of Cherry Hill, look at the artwork that Kyle and some of his Cherry Hill High School West classmates had on display at the Y.A.L.E. School’s Fourth Annual Tri-State DisAbility Art Show.
"Art is so fun. I love the arts," Kyle Gonzalez, 17, a Cherry Hill High School West student, said as he looked at the drawing he created. His classmate, Katherine Milligan, 16, pointed out her work of art and said it was her first time competing in the art show.
Some sponsors of the art show, including Moorestown-based Perkins Center for the Arts and Collingswood-based Say It With Clay, brought with them art and craft supplies by the bagful to the event and let attendees use those supplies to create whatever art they wanted.
Representatives of these organizations and the Art Educators of New Jersey, the Penn Museum and the Pennsylvania Art Education Association, also served as the judges of the artwork and provided the students with positive comments on their work, Donnelly explained.
Students create art using stamps at the art show.
