World-renowned artist’s work inspires those with disabilities to share their voices
By Jenyne Donaldson
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HAVRE DE GRACE, Maryland (WBAL) — The Luckiest Light is an inclusive art studio where artists with and without disabilities can create side-by-side and display their work. Now the studio is displaying the work of a world-renowned artist, whose work is inspiring.
Judith Scott’s work — a testament that even those who can’t speak have a voice and something special to offer the world — is now on display in Havre de Grace. Kimberly Waszkiewicz is the owner of The Luckiest Light.
“It’s filled with treasures that she found, things that were meaningful to her, and her style is one of a kind. Everyone is one of a kind themselves. We’re all a work of art ourselves,” Waszkiewicz said.
She was inspired by Scott, a fiber artist who had Down syndrome.
“She was born in the ’40s, and she was separated from her twin sister when she was 7. Her sister’s name was Joyce. She was institutionalized for about 35 years until Joyce was able to get guardianship of her when she was an adult,” Waszkiewicz said.
Scott was introduced to fiber art, and her work took off. Pieces took her months to complete. Waszkiewicz, inspired by Scott’s work, took her 10-year-old daughter Nora, who also has Down syndrome and loves fiber art, to see her exhibit.
“During Nora’s birthday, we got a phone call from the Visionary Museum, and they said, ‘We remember you coming to see Judith’s work, would you guys like to borrow her pieces,’ and I nearly lost it,” Waszkiewicz said.
Now, several of Scott’s pieces are on display at The Luckiest Light, proof that people and artists with disabilities have a voice, even if it’s different.
“It’s probably the only thing I really know how to do,” artist Joseph Harter said.
Harter has been painting at Luckiest Light for four years and has a penchant for cityscapes, inspired by the Twin Towers on a trip to New York as a child.
“This here is multiple boardwalks from different places. You can take, you can take Rehoboth, Ocean City, Maryland, Wildwood, New Jersey, and a few other boardwalks,” Harter said.
He said other studios shy away from people with disabilities, but at Luckiest Light, he’s just one of the guys. As he paints, preparing for his own art show in September, Scott’s work shows the possibilities for people with his abilities.
“A lot of people with disabilities know, they want to get their stuff out, but they don’t know how, but if they come here, they can, they can put a big brush in their hand and start creating something,” Harter said.
Scott’s work will be on display at The Luckiest Light through World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.
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