Curator's Statement
'MERGE with the Mainstream' is an exhibition that features many of the New England-based artists that were part of 'Pure Vision,' an exhibition that brought together for the first time northeastern artists, arts organizations and corporations who work with people with disabilities.
As I traveled through each state in New England, I found organizations and artists that had a redefined sense of community. These centers, where artists are given the tools and the encouragement to create independently and connect with the world, are places of vital creative exchange. At these centers, there is a serious respect for the process of making art.
Over the last few years, many of these artists have been included in important corporate and private collections, museum exhibitions and contemporary art shows where they are merged with mainstream artists. The merging makes a statement about the powerful force art possesses to help change perceptions.
It was a great pleasure to work withVSA arts Gallery East to bring the MERGE exhibition to Washington, D.C. TheVSA arts Gallery East has long been at the forefront in the effort to help create a more inclusive art world."
Margaret Bodell