In 1919, The Cedars of Marin was established as a supported, community-centered residence for adults with “developmental disabilities.” It marked a progression in the West, at a time when the only option for families was “commitment” to grim, state-run “asylums.” In the hundred years since that founding, The Cedars has grown and expanded within the slowly marching-forward disability rights movement.
The Cedars now includes eight residences in Marin and programs where participants can develop practical life skills—such as budgeting—go on fun outings, volunteer in the community, work for pay, craft and make fine art.
Cedars established Artist Within, an undivided art studio and art gallery, in San Anselmo in 1989. Receiving the output of its art works and textile program, Artist Within serves as a front yard and stoop for Cedars. It is the place where Cedars meets the public. I took a tour of the art with Nicole Frazer, the gallery manager, meeting one of the artists as he drew a full-length portrait of Frank Zappa. Another worked a handloom.
What I can say of the art is this: Despite ghettoizing labels such as “art brut,” “outsider art” and “naive art,” this art often contains complex technique and challenging themes. These are not “artists with disabilities,” but simply “artists”—humans seeking self expression and enlightenment through the modes of art. Pull a catalog from NIAD Art Center: Genius is as common among these people as without. And the Canon of Art cannot long exclude them. As we chatted, a Bob Marley album played along.
Nicole, I have focused on your fine art. What other inventory do your artists have for sale here?
In addition to framed and unframed art we have cards, artist-made jewelry, pillows, tea towels, placemats, scarves, beanies …
We are sitting amid your current, abstract art show, which will have dropped by the time of publication as you install your June 27 fiber arts show. Let me pick a piece at random—that beautiful, densely-layered mixed-media canvas. What can you tell me about the artist?
That is from the “Lotus Series,” by Zina Walker. Zina is almost nonverbal. Art is her expression. For her tiny size—and staff help her to walk—she is super physical and tactile in her art-making.
There are 40 artists in this outgoing show. And I understand your facilitation is very limited; you just expose the artists to new media, which they take or leave.
Yes. Zina wasn’t very interested in painting until she discovered inking with sticks. That launched her. She also loves wrapping mannequins in beaded jewelry … I could go off on tangents about any of the artists [laughs].
I understand you helped place one of your artists in the de Young Museum’s triennial survey of Bay Area painters.
Yes! Jeff Haines. His piece Comical World was selected for the de Young open. There were 8,000 submissions to be in that show.
That’s where your artists deserve to be.
We hope to be collected into their permanent collection. It’s not unprecedented. Last year SF Moma added an entire show, “Into the Brightness” from Creativity Explored [a program analogous to Artist Within], to their collection. It was in the New York Times: “outsider art, being collected, being elevated!”
Learn More: ‘Tying it Together: The Art of Fiber’ opens at Artist Within at 6pm, June 27 and runs through Aug. 15. The show opening coincides with San Anselmo’s LiveOn The Avenue three-stage concert and street fair. Details at cedarslife.org/artist-within.
