LO CALLY SOURCED
Portrait of an Art Studio Autumn Simpson My mission in all of this is to show people how capable, talented, and smart the STARS are. People saw the artwork on exhibition and were amazed. And all I can say is, ‘They’ve always been capable of this. It just takes a few people to help unearth that. —Rachael Corey, Art Studio Coordinator, STARS Family Services
“I’ve lived here in Wheaton for most of my life,” she says, “I studied art at a college in Michigan and then came back. I’ve known for a long time that I have a passion for working with adults with disabilities. My end goal is to do something involving therapeutic arts.”
Rachael smiles when she recalls how Rachael and I sit in the basement of the she became involved with STARS Family Jean Hooten Home, a spacious room that houses a washer, dryer, TV area and through a family friend who had worked the Art studio. It’s a wondrous space; a at Washington House. “It was insane to long table sits laden with paper, paint
people with disabilities who were so integrated into their community; into the workplace, and that’s a very special thing. I can’t believe it was sitting under my nose for so long. ‘I was drawn in by SFS’s mission to provide their residents with a high as possible quality of life; to provide community, to provide friendships, familybuilding—that was everything I was looking for. And it totally exceeded every expectation I had. The more I’m involved with SFS, the prouder I am to work here.”
and every art supply imaginable. Art andRachael has served in many different supplies also cover every shelf and wall, roles throughout her time at SFS. a testament to the creative hours spentBeginning the summer of 2016, she here, and it’s breathtaking. worked Sundays at the Jean Hooten Rachael is wearing her painting clothes.Home, shifted into mornings, and now The fabric is dotted with bright splashesserves as the art studio coordinator. of color and radiates creativity. I ask“I was always doing art,” Rachael exclaims, her about where she grew up, what she describing her quiet Sunday afternoons studied, her interests. at the Jean Hooten Home in the room that would later become the art studio. Rachael grows more serious as she talks
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