102 and ready to paint! Your support reveals talents that might have remained hidden. CATA artist Ruthie wheels up to the canvas with a big smile. Yesterday was her 102nd birthday, and she’s ready to start a new painting. With the help of a laser pointer and the aid of a trained “tracker”—a person who acts as the artist’s hands— Ruthie and dozens of other artists are able to create stunning works of art through Artistic Realization Technologies. Developed by artist Tim Lefens, this innovative technique gives full creative control to people with disabilities who are not able to hold or manipulate a paintbrush. 4
“A.R.T. offers a way for artists like Ruthie to communicate something that would otherwise go unsaid or unknown,” says Stefanie Weber, a CATA Faculty Artist who serves as Ruthie’s tracker. After working with Stefanie for the past year, Ruthie has found a unique style that’s all her own. “Do you want a big brush or a little brush?” asks Stefanie. She holds out a handful of brushes and Ruthie takes her time feeling each one. After she chooses, Ruthie uses a color wheel to show Stefanie exactly which shade she wants to use.
