Full Circle 2007: An Inspiring Afternoon

Arts Access dancer Shaleena Tomassini
performs “In the Arms of the Angel” with
the Roxey Ballet’s Mark St. Pierre.

The music and lyrics of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up”, performed as artists in wheelchairs were rolled onto the stage at the Matheny Medical and Educational Center’s Robert Schonhorn Arts Center in Peapack, was a fitting finale to an inspiring afternoon. It was the conclusion of the stage presentation at Full Circle 2007: The View From Here, the annual celebration of Matheny’s Arts Access Program, held November 10. Matheny is a special hospital for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. Arts Access makes it possible for people with disabilities to create fine art, assisted by professional artist-facilitators.

Full Circle began with a gallery reception featuring paintings, drawings, digital art and sculpture created by Arts Access artists. The stage presentation highlighted prose, drama and dance created by Arts Access artists, accompanied by professional actors, dancers and singers. And a dessert reception enabled those in attendance to view the artwork once again. Richard Wade of Long Valley fell in love with a painting (untitled) by artist, Kevin White, and purchased it. Herman and Pat Simmeth of Berkeley Heights came to full circle because they belong to the same church as artist, T.J. Christian. They found the exhibit “overwhelming”. Bob and Lori Woods of South Brunswick were there to see their daughter, Meaghan, a dance major at Rutgers’ Mason gross School of the Arts, perform to the prose of Arts Access artist, Cheryl Chapin. Said Lori Woods: “This is our favorite of all her performances.”

The show was produced by Arts Access dance facilitator, Andrea Kramer, artistic director of Wings Conservatory in Chester. Lyn Sanders, director of Arts Access, observed that, “Nowhere are so many people who cannot speak, speaking volumes. Nowhere are so many people who cannot run, gliding gracefully across a stage…”

Food and beverages were graciously donated by: cocoLuxe Fine Pastries, Pea pack; Country Picnic, Bedminster; Limestone Café, Pea pack; Opah Grille, Gladstone; and Starbucks, Bernardsville and Chester.

View Wheelchair Dance Video

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