Each year for the past six years, L’Arche Comox Valley has celebrated the Art of Belonging.
People with and without intellectual disabilities join together to laugh, play and create beautiful art together under the direction of artist Dean Bauche.
In past years, participants have created with fused glass, with paint and paper, and by dressing up for imaginative photos. This year was a little different than most.
“In spite of the constraints imposed by COVID, we were still able to join together in creating a sense of community, and joy and share together the gifts we all have to offer,” said Debby Howard of L’Arche Comox Valley.
The theme of the program was looking at the world with new eyes. During the week, participants looked for letters of the alphabet in ordinary things and took photos. The branches of a tree might form the letter A for example, or the pipes under a sink the letter U.
“We gathered weekly via Zoom to share our discoveries, dance, make faces and laugh together,” added Howard.
“Participants made nameplates with the photographic letters, and Bauche is assembling a mural of the images as well as an alphabet book (A is for Art, B is for Belonging), both of which will be on display at the I Belong Centre on Grieve.”