Description: 

Slingshot Presents showcases the hand-built ceramics of six (possibly seven) artists that

work out of Slingshot / Alpha Art Studio – a progressive art center in downtown Santa

Barbara that supports the creative practice and professional visibility of artists with

intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The exhibition highlights a small cross-section of the studio’s extensive creative output --

showcasing the variety of hand-building techniques employed by artists at the studio.

Alongside these ceramics, a selection of drawings and paintings are presented to illuminate

the broader scope of the artist’s practice and how their interests are translated across

different media. The juxtaposition suggests that the artist is less interested in what the media

(be it clay or any other) can do than how the media can further their specific interest.

After decades of operating Alpha Art Studio as a component of adult day service, Alpha

Resource Center established Slingshot in 2013 to create a dedicated art center for adults

with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Santa Barbara County. At present,

the studio supports around 40 artists, who range in age from mid-twenties to early seventies.

Following the progressive arts model, the studio maintains a person-centered approach,

facilitating artists with access to materials, techniques, and essential accommodations. The

studio’s role is to enable each artist by sharing knowledge and technique rather than

emphasizing a ‘right way’ of doing. No prior experience is required for participation -- only

sincere interest – as art is an accessible means for all to communicate and contribute

meaningfully to our society.

Slingshot aims to advance the recognition, visibility, and inclusion of artists with IDD within

our local community and the broader field of contemporary art.