Marc Making: Artists of Marcfirst features a variety of artwork by creative individuals from Marcfirst, a local agency dedicated to supporting adults with developmental disabilities. During the past four months, University Galleries and Marcfirst’s “Marc Making” program have partnered to afford these artists an opportunity to create paintings, drawings, collages, and small sculptures through workshops held on Saturdays among the gallery’s rotating exhibitions. Though the individuals have varying experiences making art, the Marc Making program aims to, as Arts Coordinator Iga Puchalska states, “create an inclusive and creative environment of collaboration through supporting individuals’ self-expression while participating in the Bloomington-Normal fine arts community and beyond.”
The artists will continue the aforementioned Saturday workshops throughout their exhibition, resulting in two continually evolving walls: a spotlight of new artwork produced from the most recent workshop; and an abstract mural that will develop over time through collaboration between Marcfirst individuals and volunteers. Marc Making: Artists of Marcfirst is more than a celebration of artmaking—it is an active hub for creativity, inclusion, and collaboration between the artists of Marcfirst’s Marc Making program and the community of Bloomington-Normal.
Artwork from Marcfirst’s “Daily Training” program will also be on display to represent those individuals who were unable to attend the off-site workshops at the gallery.
The Marcfirst Choir, which includes many of the participating artists, will perform a number of songs at 6 p.m. during the exhibition reception on Friday, June 2.
Marc Making: Artists of Marcfirst is a result of a partnership between Marcfirst’s Marc Making program and University Galleries of Illinois State University. The exhibition is organized by Curator Jason Judd and art workshops are organized by Marc Making’s Art Coordinator Iga Puchalska. Marc Making’s workshops are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation. Programs at University Galleries are supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.