These Artists are Proof that Art is a Universal Language

♪♪ [Charity Nebbe] The reasons for making art are plentiful.

For starters, it's a great creative outlet and a way to convey your thoughts, feelings and emotions.

It's a vehicle for connection and storytelling.

It can spark conversations.

Perhaps most importantly, art is a universal language that transcends limitations and abilities.

♪♪ [Deb Arguello] Sometimes when I try to express myself, I feel I can't get it out through words.

Art is a good thing to express myself.

[Leo Bird] With my art I hope to make the world a better place and enlighten people to how I feel about things.

[Zoe Niswander] I'm all about fantasy.

Art doesn't have to be about real things, it can be about whatever you want.

♪♪ [Lucas Martin] It just feels good doing it.

I don't care if it sells or anything.

I just like doing it just for the heck of it.

♪♪ [Nebbe] These Iowans are all part of the Freedom of Expression Project, a biennial initiative that brings together artists of all abilities to create works that will eventually be part of a collective public display.

They begin the year by gathering as a group every week to experiment with new mediums and techniques and build friendships.

[Katie Flippen] So, going to the studio and being at the Art Center, working with Jill, they had the opportunity to take the work that they were doing and to make it bigger and to try things that they maybe had never tried before.

[Male voice off-screen] Here we go, Jill!

[Male artist] This is cool.

[Nebbe] Each artist has different abilities and backgrounds.

Some have vision impairments.

Some can't use their arms or hands independently, while others are non-verbal.

But all of the participants use their strengths and talents to create works of art that reflect their lived experiences.

[Jill Wells] Many of our artists, that is their primary language.

They are using the materials as an extension of their voice.

Deb and Gretchen have this beautiful synergy of sound and body language and material.

[Deb Arguello] Collaborating with Gretchen makes it possible for my vision to come alive because I can't physically do a lot of the art work by myself.

[Gretchen Luloff] I might place something and say, how does that look?

And she'll either say no or yes.

And if she doesn't like that piece, I'll try something else there.

And we'll keep going like that.

[Katie Flippen] One of the individuals we serve really doesn't use words to communicate.

[Marta Argueta] This is Miss Vera Webster.

She loves creating this type of collage by dipping water and paint together.

It helps her to stay calm, to stay busy.

She gets very anxious if we're not busy with our hands.

♪♪ [Katie Flippen] Several artists that before they found art, they were really struggling with their own like, what am I offering to this world?

[Female voice off-screen] Brian is going to share with you guys a piece he has been working on.

[Brian] I used a black Sharpie for the lines.

[Katie Flippen] People look at you differently.

You are seen differently when you are able to share something that you have created.

When your voice comes through in your piece and people see it and you see people see it, it's beautiful and it's what the power of expression is.

[Nebbe] After the artists discover what they enjoy doing most, they spend time working one-on-one with Jill or another professional artist to create pieces for their end of the year exhibition.

This year, artists also had the opportunity to create designs for an adaptive fashion show.

[Jill Wells] It's very much like the Derby.

[Female voice off-screen] This is awesome!

[Nebbe] Artist Kevin Nelson's runway look combines his history of making Halloween costumes with his mom and his passion for learning about his Nordic heritage.

[Angie Johnson] It's very cool.

He has made a kilt.

And he's made some cuffs as well.

A head piece that he gets to wear.

[Heidi Nelson] He's just so excited to showcase who he is and where he comes from.

[Female voice off-screen] Are you going to slide it out?

[Male voice off-screen] Yes.

[Heidi Nelson] He was made fun of a lot when he was little and I always would remind him, be proud of who you are.

It's okay to be different, it's okay to be called something, but you're still a Viking, you know, you're still Norwegian.

[Kevin Nelson] My art reminds me of my family, where I came from.

[Jill Wells] We've got Nelson for your family.

We have this helmet.

These are things that you are choosing to say this is your family crest, and that's really cool.

Yeah.

[Angie Johnson] Sometimes words can fail us, but Kevin is able to connect with others through his art.

[Nebbe] The culmination of the Freedom of Expression Project gives artists an opportunity to display their works and meet fellow community members.

♪♪ [Jill Wells] What we're asking in this project is for folks to kind of spend a little bit longer time with the work and the artists.

And then that way you I think get a really clear understanding of what art truly is.

♪♪ [Katie Flippen] It is community building.

It is conversation.

It is sound.

It is material.

It is something that is very unique to the individual or the individuals that are making it.

♪♪ [Event emcee] Good evening and welcome to The World We Build.

(applause) [Event emcee] Opening our show tonight we have Deb Arguello with Felicia.

[Jill Wells] Art shouldn't be so serious all the time.

And so, I really appreciate that the artists let that side of their personalities come out as they express their fashion and their art work.

[Event emcee] Here comes Jack Maron, an Iowa artist whose practice explores bold graphic painting and wearable design.

♪♪ [Katie Flippen] There's a lot of misunderstanding around what people are capable of.

A lot of times people with disabilities don't have the opportunity to have their voices heard.

[Event emcee] Closing out our lineup is Kevin Nelson.

[Katie Flippen] It is an opportunity for them to be seen as a productive, contributing, talented individual with such purpose and such belonging.

They're giving back.

This is an opportunity to give back.

♪♪