Food-themed art show to display work of neurodiverse artists
The idea for a food-focused art show at Carnegie’s Studio Forget-Me-Not! all started with painted ceramic slices of pizza.
“Food is one of those things people come together for,” said Laura Stuart, director at Studio Forget-Me-Not!, a venue that provides art services for adults with intellectual disabilities.
After some discussion, Stuart, her colleagues and artists at the studio decided to coordinate the upcoming Taste of Art show, slated from 1 to 5 p.m. June 29 at the studio, 329 E. Main St. in Carnegie.
Adults with intellectual disabilities enroll in classes and gain exposure to different art forms and mediums, Stuart said. Artwork is sold at the gallery and artists retain all of the profit. Some also gain experience while working at the studio, be it from pricing items or running the register, Stuart said.
“They get immersed in all the different concepts to learn about the retail art business and what it takes to do something like that,” Stuart said.
The Taste of Art show features works from about 30 artists, Stuart said. She intends to display the food-related artwork — which includes papier-mache doughnuts and cakes, drawings and paintings — through July.
“Folks just really enjoy expressing things through art,” Stuart said. “Some are nonverbal, so this is their main way to tell their story.”
All art forms and mediums are taught at the studio, which holds classes quarterly.
“It’s a balance of understanding how much to assist and how much not to,” Stuart said of the teaching process. “And it’s also a matter of choice.”
Brady Morgan, 22, of Scott Township loves to paint and draw, he said. He enjoys using different types of colors when he paints.
“You get to draw different things,” Morgan said of the class.
Morgan and Heather McGreevy, 27, of Fox Chapel, are excited to display their art at the upcoming show. McGreevy enjoys all art forms and most enjoys the happiness people get when she shows them her art.
“I like art because it brings people joy,” she said.
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
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