Art studio in Wisconsin focuses on people with disabilities

Stuart Nagy knew his world changed the day he walked into Studio 84.

The 27-year-old had been looking for a place to create pottery and paintings. When he found the art space in downtown Whitewater, he immediately embraced it. Nagy, who has Down syndrome, even wanted to live above the studio so he would not have to travel from his home in Hales Corners.

Studio 84 in downtown Whitewater specializes in developing the creative abilities of people with disabilities. The nonprofit studio also features gallery space and a gift shop with art created by the studio’s artists.

Deborah Blackwell had the courage to create the unique space a decade ago when the economy had tanked and people had little money to donate.

“It was my passion that carried me through,” Blackwell said. “I started with a used table I found alongside the road and some leftover art supplies.”

Blackwell graduated in 2008 from UW-Whitewater with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and yearned for a job with meaning. While in college, she saw that people with disabilities had few opportunities to discover their creativity. Blackwell developed a business plan for a community studio that would welcome them.

Ben Kelly, who has a master’s degree in social work, works with students and challenges them when they are ready. He began as a volunteer.

Kelly Gunn came to Studio 84 three years ago and wanted to try painting. Staff soon learned she had extremely limited vision and is colorblind.

Gunn also never learned to read braille because her fingers were not sensitive enough to feel the raised bumps that make up the alphabet. Without sensitivity in her fingers, she could not determine if she got paint on her brush or if her brush was touching the canvas.

“She was literally painting the air with no paint,” Blackwell said. Eventually, Blackwell and Kelly found ways for Gunn to overcome her painting challenges. Today, Gunn works from paint in small cups instead of the usual pallet. By using cups, she can locate the paint and be guaranteed of getting paint on her brush.

Gunn paints with her face right up to the canvas and often ends up with a spot of paint on her nose.

Since coming to Studio 84, her curiosity about life has grown, and she is willing to try new things.

She has even written a children’s book, “A B See Alphabet Book,” featuring a painted picture of an animal for each letter of the alphabet.

“I want to be an inspiration to others,” Gunn said, “and to let children know that even if they have a disability they can do lots of things.”