Creative Growth Art Center was founded upon a then-groundbreaking belief—that people with developmental, mental and physical disablities could be creative and express themselves aesthetically. In the decades since, the Oakland, California nonprofit has given that opportunity to adult artists, and expanded its services to include a professional studio environment and the facilitation of gallery and museum exhibition and representation. In this video filmed at the studio, we meet Creative Growth staff and artists, including collagist John Hiltunen, painter Aurie Ramirez, and William Scott, whose funky utopias recall the revolutionary poster art of Emory Douglas. Their work is detailed, irreverent, and in dialogue with the words and images of popular culture.

 

Directed by Cheryl Dunn. Filmed by Cheryl Dunn and Philip Avery Jackson. Additional Filming by Ron Egozi. Sound Recording by Robert Bluemke. Still Photography by Cheryl Dunn. 

 

Featuring Tom di Maria, Director, Creative Growth, Jennifer Strate O'Neal, Projects Manager, Creative Growth, and the artists of Creative Growth. 

 

With appearances by: William Scott, John Hiltunen, Aurie Ramirez, Dan Miller and William Tyler. 

 

Music: "Snake Skin Swagger." Composed by Toby Bricheno. Courtesy of Felt Music.