58 | JUNE 20 • 2024 
J
N

ARTS&LIFE
ART

A 

work of art kept 
in the home of 
Bassie Shemtov 
is especially appreciated 
because it represents and 
showcases creativity by an 
artist who has taken part 
at the Soul Studio in West 
Bloomfield, which she directs 
as part of the Friendship 
Circle. 
The piece of art, “Sweet 
Hugs,” was done by Sam 
Morris, who works at 
the Dakota Bakery, also 
in West Bloomfield. It 
shows a hug shared by 
two people, and Shemtov 
thinks of it as visualizing 
the unconditional, 

nonjudgmental relationships 
that develop through her 
organization serving those 
with special needs.
Adult participants at the 
Soul Studio display creative 
talents in various kinds of 
artistry and sell their works 
through Soul Gallery exhibits 
that change every 90 days 
and are featured at other 
area locations. The artists 
keep half the money from 
individual sales while half 
of the funds go to support 
Friendship Circle activities.
“In 2013, our children 
that we started with at 4 or 
6 years old were becoming 
adults and trying to get jobs 

with some being let go of 
jobs,” Shemtov said. “These 
individuals ended up being 
at home and feeling down 
and depressed. Many of 
them were overeating and 
watching TV or playing 
video games because they 
had nothing to do. 
“We realized we had to 
do something, and that’s 
how the Soul Studio, Soul 
Café and Dakota Bread 
happened because there was 
a huge need of adults being 
productive.”
While Morris has moved 
on to spending more time in 
a vocational enterprise such 
as Dakota Bread, there are 

about 40 participants, some 
employed part-time and 
some not, who give hours 
and abilities to the Soul 
Studio.

‘SUBMERGED’
The studio’s current exhibit, 
which opened May 2 and 
continues through the end of 
July, is titled Submerged and 
depicts water scenes. 
 Through paintings, 
sculptures and multimedia 
installations, artists show 
underwater landscapes, 
different forms of water life 
and the general atmosphere 
that occurs in the depths of 
the water.

Soul Studio artists display their work 
in ‘Submerged’ exhibit.

 A Safe 
Creative Space

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LEFT: “Hang Ten, 
Abstract Wave” by 
David Kole.
BELOW: “Under the 
Sail” by Carlie Suris.

