Open Studio spotlights artists with disabilities in downtown New York

Rachel Carle Cohen and David Fierman are launching Open Studio, a downtown New York gallery dedicated to showcasing work by artists with disabilities, continuing a tradition of inclusive art spaces that have emerged across North America since the 1970s and contributing to the Progressive Art Studios movement that rejects traditional student-teacher dynamics in favor of communal creative environments.

Open Studio's Founding Vision

The concept of "Open Studio" has emerged in various forms across North America, each with a distinct founding vision. In Toronto, Open Studio was established in 1970 by Richard Sewell and Barbara Hall as an "open" communal space where artists could pursue printmaking in an inclusive environment. This artist-run center addressed the specialized equipment and expertise needed for printmaking techniques like intaglio, lithography, and screenprinting.openstudioproject+2

Meanwhile, other Open Studio initiatives have emerged with different missions. In Chicago, the Open Studio Project began in 1991 as the creation of three art therapists who sought to make art while being of service to their community. In Boulder, Open Studios was founded in 1995 with a mission to advance visual arts and promote artists in the local community. The Getty Museum's Open Studio project, conceived by artist Mark Bradford, focuses on making contemporary arts education accessible to teachers and classrooms worldwide through downloadable art-making activities. Each iteration shares a common thread of creating accessible spaces for artistic expression and community engagement.openstudio+3

John Tursi Solo Exhibition

John Tursi, a visionary artist born in 1961 in Whitestone, Queens, recently showcased his distinctive works in a solo exhibition at Ricco/Maresca Gallery from March 3 to April 15, 2023. Described by Dr. Janos Marton, Director of the Living Museum at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, as possessing "genius status," Tursi creates scroll-like drawings that are "daily, precise, obsessive, colorful, at times humorous, at times tragic, always enchanting." His artistic journey began at the Living Museum, where his "Book of Dreams" found acceptance rather than clinical judgment.riccomaresca

Tursi's work continues to gain recognition beyond this exhibition. His "Lozenges" series was recently displayed at 127 Henry Street, and he participated in a group exhibition at Fierman Gallery on the Lower East Side featuring artists from the Living Museum. Despite facing learning disabilities and psychiatric challenges throughout his life, Tursi has developed a unique artistic voice that transcends his diagnosis. Like mathematician John Nash, he integrates internal and external realities in his art, creating raw, unfiltered, and visionary pieces that flow "from the neuro-entanglements of his mind."artbreakout+4

Progressive Art Studios Movement with Open Studio

The Progressive Art Studios movement represents a revolutionary approach to artistic creation for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health differences. Unlike traditional educational models, these studios reject the student-teacher hierarchy in favor of "studio facilitators" who assist rather than instruct, creating communal environments where artists work during regular hours with professional support. This methodology centers on acceptance rather than assimilation, providing artists with disabilities the opportunity to develop independent practices while gaining access to the contemporary art world through exhibitions, art fairs, and studio visits.artresourcestransfer+1

Open Studio joins a rich legacy of Progressive Art Studios that began in the 1970s with pioneering organizations like Gateway Arts (1973), Creative Growth (1974), and Spindleworks (1976). These studios were influenced by Art Brute and Outsider Art movements, which recognized the creative value of self-taught artists outside the mainstream. Today, the movement continues to evolve through organizations like the Progressive Art Studio Alliance, which advocates for resources and policies benefiting member programs across the United States and internationally. Artists from these studios have achieved significant recognition in prestigious institutions, with creators like Marlon Mullen being featured in exhibitions at the Whitney Biennial and SFMOMA.progressiveartstudioalliance+2