Celebrating 14 Years of Artistic Collaboration

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Matheny

Symbiosis is a mutually beneficial relationship between different groups or individuals. It’s a special type of bond that helps both groups grow and thrive together and in their own ways.

The Matheny Arts Access Program, part of Matheny Medical & Educational Center, is a fine arts program that empowers individuals with disabilities to create art without boundaries in the visual, performing, and literary arts in Peapack, NJ. The WAE Center at JSDD is a holistic, creative, and expressive arts learning center in Livingston, NJ, for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each program is dedicated to enabling people with disabilities to produce fine art through the use of innovative systems and techniques.

Since the spring of 2011, these two organizations have come together every year to showcase the talents and achievements of artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New Jersey. For over a decade, Matheny Arts Access and the WAE Center have met in Newark and installed an expansive exhibit throughout the halls of Rutgers’ New Jersey Medical School. This annual summer exhibit filled the vast hallways with light, color, and possibility. The many artists whose work was on display attended openings and brought their families and friends to see both: the plethora of art and the artists who manifest it.

Back at the start of the pandemic, this annual summer exhibit and opening reception evolved into a digital space, keeping the artists and the attendees safe and healthy while also declaring that COVID wasn’t going to stop these artists from sharing their creativity with the world. This change completely transformed the scope and structure of the exhibit and allowed each artist to really listen to their peers speak about their process and their joy at creating.

Zak Zablow, an artist at the WAE Center, says “it is so great to see how many artists are out there creating stuff. Amazing work and so different than what I am doing. I love hearing each person’s story, and seeing how their art turns out.”

This year, we are seeing this partnership evolve once again into a new and exciting exhibit, Summer Symbiosis: a collaborative exhibit by Matheny Arts Access and the WAE Center, presented in-person at the Heidi Gallery at JSDD. It marks a new turn in the road of a longtime partnership in bringing the work of artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities into a commercial art space.

When told about being included in this year’s new exhibit, Josh Handler, an artist at Matheny Arts Access, said, “I’m so happy about that!” He went on to say how he “wants to keep the art world in suspense, wants to keep it fresh, and doesn’t want to disappoint his loyal fans.”

“Like a branch of the same tree we grew and grew to come together and exhibit art with Matheny once more as we have over the years,” Esther Tanahashi remarks. “Only this time in our very own Heidi Gallery, showing the work side by side.”

“Collaborating with the WAE Center has really become a highlight for us every year,” Arianne Petersen, Communications Specialist at Matheny Arts Access, says. “Besides the fact that our organizations are so aligned with our purposes, which honestly makes it such a joy to work together, our artists have expressed so much enthusiasm for our collaborative exhibits.”

Summer Symbiosis is a collaborative exhibit featuring two organizations, fifty artists, and innumerable possibilities. It celebrates the artists of both organizations as well as the long established relationship between them. Marilynn Schneider, a current member of the Heidi Gallery Advisory Committee and a longtime WAE Center Director speaks to the power of such a collaboration:

“Through many years the relationship between Matheny Arts Access and the WAE Center at JSDD has transformed the lives of all our members. This exhibit has brought the two organizations and their many artists together annually to share pride, anticipation, and connection. The two professional teams have worked hard and seen the reward of artists who see and hear kindred spirits: sharing ideas, inspirations, and their life stories. This growing connection between artists impacted families, friends, and caregivers, enriching the lives of all who have come to participate and observe this event.”

Summer Symbiosis will be on display from July 22 through August 18 at the Heidi Gallery in Livingston, NJ. Plan your visit to the gallery by visiting www.jsddmetrowest.org/heidi-gallery/ or emailing HeidiGallery@jsdd.org. And please join the artists for an opening reception on Sunday, July 28 from 2 – 4 pm.

Follow Matheny Arts Access on social media @MathenyArtsAccess and the WAE Center on social media @WAEcenter for the latest news about each organization and their artists. And follow the Heidi Gallery at JSDD on social media @HeidiGalleryatJSSD to hear about all their exciting events.

Read on the Bernardsville-Bedminster Patch here.

Art Without Boundaries

Posted on April 9, 2024 by Matheny

Thank you to all who attended Art Without Boundaries, the second Arts Access exhibition at Sotheby’s! Featured artists Jess, Karen, Bari Kim, Tammy, and Paul were so happy show their work in this prestigious gallery, and the whole Matheny community is always thrilled to share the mission of Arts Access.

Thank you to Keith Bratcher and Twelve09 Photography for capturing all these wonderful moments of artistic expression and community connection.

NJ awards $72K to arts program for people with disabilities

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Matheny

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) awarded Matheny − a Somerset County-based hospital and school for people with developmental disabilities − $72,732 for its arts program, according to Matheny.

Arts Access, located in Peapack, is in its 13th year of making art, including music, theater, poetry, painting and more accessible to people who often have “complex” medical needs and limited mobility.

Founded by the Matheny family who wanted better for their son, it also trains health care professionals, educators, and offers a variety of services to people with disabilities such as life skills training, therapy and wheelchair repair. Its participants come from across the state.

Read more here or at at northjersey.com.

Arts Access Program Receives $10,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Matheny

July 12, 2023, Peapack, NJ— The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced more than $103 million in recommended grants in the second major grant announcement of fiscal year 2023. Organizations in all 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions will carry out arts projects in three NEA funding categories: Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, and State and Regional Partnerships.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is pleased to support a wide range of projects, demonstrating the many ways the arts enrich our lives and contribute to healthy and thriving communities,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “These organizations play an important role in advancing the creative vitality of our nation and helping to ensure that all people can benefit from arts, culture, and design.”

Matheny has received a $10,000 Grants for Arts Projects. Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) is the National Endowment for the Arts’ largest grants program for organizations. Matching grants range from $10,000 to $100,000, and are recommended for organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Matheny’s grant will support a multidisciplinary arts showcase featuring original work created by artists with disabilities.

Eileen Murray, Director of the Arts Access Program, said “We are honored and thrilled to have the generous support of the NEA for our Full Circle event. The funds will support our artist with disabilities to display and perform their creative masterpieces. No one understands the power of art better than the NEA, and we are so gratified that they appreciate and acknowledge the impactful art that is being created in Arts Access.”

Full Circle 2023: Reemergence, the Arts Access program’s biennial showcase of its talented artists, takes place on November 4th in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center on the Matheny campus in Peapack. It consists of professional performers, designers, and curators who work alongside Arts Access artists to help bring their visions to life. Light refreshments will be provided. Desserts are donated by CocoLuxe Fine Pastries in Peapack. To purchase tickets, go to artsaccessprogram.org. For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news

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About Matheny’s Arts Access Program: Arts Access, celebrating its 30^th year, gives people with developmental disabilities the tools necessary to create fine art. Assisted by professional artist-facilitators, the artists use specialized systems and methodologies that have been designed to enable individuals across the full spectrum of disability to clearly communicate their ideas. The fruits of their creativity – acrylic paintings, digital art, choreography, poetry, plays, essays and more – are highlighted at Full Circle through a gallery exhibition of visual art followed by a multi-media stage show of dramatic works, staged readings, and choreographed dance.

About the National Endowment for the Arts: Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Visit arts.gov to learn more about NEA.

Celebrating 75 Years of Matheny

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Matheny

On Thursday, October 13th, we were thrilled to be joined up on the hill by parents, supporters, and community members to celebrate 75 years of Matheny magic! It was wonderful to reconnect with old friends, see some new faces, and share both our history and the exciting plans on the horizon.

Thank you for your support! We cannot wait to continue telling the Matheny story – for the next 75 years, and beyond!

If you were able to join us on Thursday, we hope you had as much fun as we did! If you were unable to attend, we hope you enjoy these video and photo highlights!

75th Anniversary Video

75th Anniversary Slideshow

Event Photo Album

Miles for Matheny 2022 – Full Photo Album

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Matheny

Check out our full Miles for Matheny 2022 Photo Album! Thanks to everyone who helped make this wonderful event happen! It was great to gather with our community and supporters.

*All photos by Keith Bratcher. Thank you, Keith!

Miles for Matheny 2022 – Special Picture Frame!

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Matheny

Did you attend Miles for Matheny 2022? If so, did you stop by for a picture in our special 25th Anniversary picture frame?

Find your photo here, and be on the lookout for even more snapshots from this awesome event next week. Thank you for being there, supporting us, and helping us capture these beautiful moments.

The Faces of Matheny – Miles for Matheny 2022

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Matheny

Saturday, June 4th was the 25th Annual Miles for Matheny!

We couldn’t have asked for a better day. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who showed up this weekend to show love and support to our amazing students, patients, and families! For this special Faces of Matheny feature, we are showing you some of our favorite moments from this beautiful Miles celebration. More photos to come later this week.

Special thanks to the Bernardsville News for their coverage, and to CBS 2 News New York and meteorologist John Elliott for their live broadcast from Miles at the Far Hills Fairgrounds! Check out the videos below.

Thank You To Our Miles for Matheny Sponsors!

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Matheny

Less than a month until our 25th Annual Miles for Matheny!

This exciting event wouldn’t be possible without sponsorships from families, supporters, and businesses in our community. Please join us in thanking:

The Lavine and Gordon Families, one of our devoted and enthusiastic Matheny families.
The Poses Family Foundation, which is dedicated to bringing about significant positive impact in five focus areas, the largest being learning disabilities, through a combination of business disciplines, nonprofit expertise, funding and passion.
Pfizer, one of the world’s premier biopharmaceutical companies who pursues breakthroughs that change patients’ lives.

Thank you to these incredible people and organizations for supporting us as we work to enrich the lives and nurture the unique abilities of our students and patients.

There’s still time to register! Join us on Saturday, June 4th!

Miles for Matheny 2022 – 25th Anniversary!

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Matheny

In the spirit of excitement and optimism, you are invited to join us on Saturday, June 4th for the 25th annual Miles for Matheny event.

Miles is an uplifting day that allows our residents to interact with, and be celebrated by, the surrounding community. Especially on this milestone anniversary, this year’s event is sure to be a joyful day for our patients, students, residents, families, and friends. At Miles, absolutely everyone is welcome to participate and free to be themselves.

In 2022, we are planning to hold all events in person and everything will be done with the health and safety of the people we serve in mind. We are hopeful and excited to bring back the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk to the park. The day’s events include 12.5, 25, 35, and 50-mile, and “Hills of Attrition” cycle rides, a 5K Run, Kids Fun Run, and of course the beloved Wheelchair Walk.**

We’re thrilled that this year’s Miles for Matheny will be held at the J. Malcolm Belcher Fairgrounds in Far Hills. It is only fitting that we celebrate our 75th anniversary in the same town where it all began when Matheny was known as the Burnt Mills School for Paralysis Correction. Walter and Marguerite only had a dream and a GI loan of $3,000 to create this amazing organization. Today, Matheny is a comprehensive non-profit organization offering life-saving and life-enriching services that touch the lives of hundreds of people with special needs every day.

Learn more and register today!

Arts Access Works Displayed in Somerville

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Matheny

In-person exhibit at Somerset County Admin Building

In the Cultural & Heritage Gallery

We are thrilled to announce that 27 paintings by our Arts Access artists are currently featured in an in-person exhibit at the Somerset County Administration Building! Coinciding with Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the exhibit is on display in the Cultural & Heritage Gallery from February 28 – April 22. The gallery is open to the public Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm at 20 Grove Street in Somerville, NJ.

For directions, visit the county’s website: www.co.somerset.nj.us/about/county-complex-directions

We are thrilled that the Arts Access artists have this opportunity to share their work with the local community!

Learn more!

Get your Full Circle 2021 tickets today!

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Matheny

Come support our creative and hard-working Matheny artists at Full Circle, a multi-disciplinary fine arts showcase featuring original work created by the Arts Access artists.

This year, Full Circle is being re-imagined as a virtual event in order to ensure the health and safety of our artists, supporters, and staff. Both our fine art gallery exhibition and a multi-media stage show will be professionally filmed and live-streamed.

Viewers will see and experience acrylic paintings, digital paintings, sculpture, choreography, dramatic works, and staged readings of creative writing.

Join us! Saturday, November 6th

**Full Circle 2021: Art from Afar, streaming live at 4:00 pm.**

We are always proud to celebrate and share the exceptional work created by the Arts Access artists in the visual, literary, and performing arts. Please join us to see our artists demonstrate their passion and talent!