WOKINGHAM library is the place to see an exhibition of art created by members of a self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities, CLASP Wokingham.
The group celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a range of activities and challenges.
And the Art Exhibition is the group’s flagship event of the month – an expression of life, the contribution they make to the community, and the joy they experience at CLASP Wokingham.
An exhibition launch was attended by High Sheriff of Berkshire, Shaun Taylor; High Steward of Wokingham, Lucy Zeal; Wokingham Borough Mayor, Cllr Carol Jewell; and Town Council Mayor, Cllr Louise Timlin.
Debbie Morrison is the founder and CEO of CLASP.
“There’s talent and ability here,” she said, “and I hope people who view the exhibition will see CLASP in a different light.
“They know about the campaigning work we do and the hard graft, but when you see the quality and concentration this work takes, I think they’ll see the group in a new way.”
Debbie has wanted to put on an exhibition of members’ work for some time.
“I’m always inspired by what they do,” she said.
“They’re so talented in their own way, and I wanted to share it.
“But the members keep wanting to take their pictures and artwork home with them, so for the past six months we’ve had to try to squirrel them away to reserve them for the exhibition.
“They’re proud of what they do, and we’d love to display this exhibition permanently somewhere.
“Everyone thinks they may not be capable of doing much – but the truth is, they’re so capable in their own way, and with their own means of expression.
“Making art with them is such a pleasure, because no one is judging what I’m doing, we’re all just having fun together.
It’s a real leveller, and I think that’s really important.”
Guests said how much they enjoyed the exhibition, its variety, its expressiveness, and its sense of fun.
Artist Nikk Brown contributed not only to the collaborative work inside the exhibition but is also showing his work on the wall just outside the gallery entrance.
He said: “Sharing my art feels quite a big deal.
“I was nervous to have work exhibited here, but it feels quite freeing and I’m really happy to be sharing it with others.”
Debbie Morrison, Michele Munro, and Sue Youle organised the exhibition.
CLASP thanks Tesco Wokingham and Morrison Wokingham both of which provided food and drink for the launch event, Wokefield Park, Wokingham Lions who gave a £500 grant, Daler Rowney who provided easels for the displays, Wokingham Library for offering the gallery space.
The exhibition is open to the public during normal library hours, until Friday, June 20, at 4pm.
For information, visit: claspwokingham.org, call: 07780 749453, or 0118 228 1801, or email: admin@claspwokingham.org
