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Soul Satisfaction
Photos by Brandon Schwartz
Young adults with special needs feel pride through Soul Center’s art studios, cafe.
Ronelle Grier | Contributing Writer
A
t the Farber Soul Center, there is no
shortage of “A-ha!” moments.
For Noah Sriro, 24, who works in
the Soul Cafe, it was his first tip — tangible
recognition for a job well done. For facilitat-
ing staff artist Carolyn Morris, it’s the joy
that comes when a fledgling artist discovers
he can weave a scarf in a pattern of his own
design. For volunteer artist Lori Champagne,
it’s the joy of introducing an artist to a new
technique and watching the creativity flow.
And for parents of young adults with spe-
cial needs, it’s having a place where their sons
and daughters can go to learn new skills and
take pride in their accomplishments.
Located at Walnut Lake and Drake roads
in West Bloomfield, the Farber Soul Center
will hold its official grand opening June 5.
Within the 18,000-square-foot facility is the
Soul Cafe (open now), the Dresner Studio
where artists can work in a variety of media,
an art gallery (sponsored in memory of Burt
and Geri Rissman) and a reception hall.
The Rissman Gallery will offer the artists
space to display their work; they will receive
commissions from the sale of their art.
“What’s going on here is literally magic,”
said Bassie Shemtov, Friendship Circle
Lifetown director. “An artist who couldn’t
draw a nose is doing portraits.”
Like many of the projects that have
sprung from Friendship Circle of Michigan,
the Farber Soul Center began as an idea,
prompted by the realization that many of
the early Friendship Circle participants had
entered young adulthood and were facing a
lack of vocational and social opportunities.
Some were experiencing isolation, spending
time at home because of the gap in appropri-
Devorah Newman of Troy displays her
weaving project.
Nick Gammicchia of Shelby Township says: “When people see my art, I want them to feel
happy, then scared. Good art takes you through all the emotions.”
ate programming after school ended.
Shemtov, motivated by her belief that art
is a powerful means of unleashing creativ-
ity, began researching programs around the
country to bring together the elements that
would become the Soul Center. She was
especially impressed with Gateway Arts in
Boston, Creative Studio in San Francisco and
Do Art in Bay City — studios where artists
with special needs created, displayed and
sold their works.
As far as she knows, the Soul Center is
the only place for young adults with special
needs where art studios and a restaurant
are combined. . She expects the Soul Center
to become a national model for Friendship
Circles and other organizations outside of
Michigan.
William and Audrey Farber of West
Bloomfield pledged a $2.1 million matching
gift, to be coordinated through the William
and Audrey Farber Foundation with the
help of the Farbers’ son, David, and his wife,
Nanci, owners of Detroit Popcorn Company,
who are also longtime Friendship Circle sup-
porters. It was only three years from concep-
tion to reality, including the time spent in the
temporary Walled Lake location known as
the “Soul Center Mini.”
Another substantial grant from the
Dresner Foundation, in memory of Vera and
Joseph Dresner, provided funding for the
studio that bears their name.
The Soul Center campaign is currently set
at $5.5 million, and $4.7 million has been
raised so far. An endowment also is in the
works for this program, with $1 million
already raised.
Art Programs Director Brian Kavanaugh teaches Jared
Hyman of West Bloomfield how to use the drill press.
Additional donations from a variety of
community members furnished the studio
with a kiln, a laser cutter and other state-
of-the-art machinery and tools worthy of a
professional art studio.
“A typical artist will envy these artists with
special needs,” Shemtov said. “They have the
coolest space to work in and the finest equip-
ment and supplies.”
UNLEASHING CREATIVITY
The artists and staff members were delighted
to move into their permanent studio loca-
tion, which includes the Friendship Lounge,
a comfortable space with its own kitchen
where employees can take lunch and cof-
fee breaks. Art Programs Director Brian
Kavanaugh, who ran a similar program in
Buffalo, N.Y., and earned an MFA degree at
Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield
Hills, said working in the temporary space
allowed them to work out scheduling issues
and learn to make the best use of volunteer
artists who have become part of the Soul
Center.
“A huge excitement has been building
for more than two years,” Kavanaugh said.
“Ideas have shifted and changed. Now that
we’re in a real space, living in it, a lot of those
hypotheticals are coming true. And we’re
lucky enough to have such highly skilled
volunteers.”
Currently, about 20 young adult artists
come weekly for varying amounts of time.
Over the summer, the studios will be open
from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Artists
can choose to work the full five hours or less,
depending on individual needs and sched-
ules. According to Shemtov, the studio space
can accommodate about 45 artists a day.
There is a charge for artists to participate
The Rissman Gallery
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10 May 19 • 2016