Clients of AIM Center will exhibit works curated by Roger Ricco on Friday
Roger Ricco owns the Ricco/Maresca gallery in New York City’s Chelsea gallery district. In the early 1980s, this recipient of the prestigious Prix d’Rome established one of the first galleries in New York devoted entirely to American Folk, self-taught and outsider art. He has also co-authored six books on these subjects. Suffice to say he knows what he’s talking about as far as art is concerned.
He will be in Chattanooga the weekend of Sept. 15 for a special exhibit, “Creating Place: Recovery Through the Arts,” which hangs through Oct. 27 at AVA. This renowned artist curated the exhibit, choosing 70 pieces from individuals throughout the Tennessee Valley who also receive services from the AIM Center. Judith Mogul, AIM Center’s visual arts coordinator, coordinated the exhibit.
“What you’ll see,” says AIM Center president and CEO Anna Protano-Biggs, “are many different styles of art but all offering a unique window into navigating life with serious mental illness and the power of community. Our artists find ways to communicate through art that transcend barriers and go straight to the heart of our collective humanity. This creates a ripple effect that transforms the way people think about mental illness and all its intersections but also embraces and celebrates the impact of community. We are fortunate to be able to see these journey’s in visual form.”
Opening weekend of this show is a special one. On Friday evening, beginning at 6 p.m., the public is invited to a reception to celebrate the new exhibit at AVA. The following day, Saturday, folks are invited to the AIM Center building on MLK to hear Mr. Ricco lecture and present on outsider art. An art project will follow for all in attendance, and a special panel of AIM Center artists will discuss how the arts facilitated their recovery. Lunch will be served, and the event is free, but requires registration here. Or you can just google AIM eventbrite and it should come up.
The Friday evening event takes place at AVA, 30 Frazier Ave. and the Saturday events are at the AIM Center, 472 West MLK Blvd.
Established in 1989, the mission of the AIM Center is to create hope, community, and social change to enrich and celebrate the lives of people living with serious mental illness. The AIM Center envisions an inclusive healthy community where all people living with mental illness achieve their highest potential.
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Ferris Robinson is the author of three children’s books, “The Queen Who Banished Bugs,” “The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds,” and “Call Me Arthropod” in her pollinator series “If Bugs Are Banished.” “Making Arrangements” is her first novel. “Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity” is a collection of true tales about man’s best friend. Her website is ferrisrobinson.com and you can download a free pollinator poster there. She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror.
Ferris Robinson