Joining Matheny Arts Access as a Volunteer

I am quite pleased to share that last month, I began volunteering with Matheny Medical and Educational Center at their Arts Access Program in the visual arts department. On Thursday, March 12, I assisted with the installation of artwork by clients/residents along the wall space in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center, in preparation for some upcoming special events.

Matheny is a non-profit organization in Peapack, New Jersey that provides medical, educational and residential services for people with various types of physical and developmental disabilities. The facility—encompassing a hospital, a school, an adult day program, community residences and the Arts Access Program—is committed to enhancing quality of life and independence for the individuals it serves.

I first heard about Matheny during a chance connection with an Arts Access participant, Isabell Villacis, and her mother/caregiver. Prior to installing my artwork at the Warren Township Library at the end of November, I assisted Isabell and her mom with the deinstallation of her own work. I had the pleasure of not only becoming acquainted with her, but also learning a great deal about her inspiring background and her creative and literary involvement at Matheny, not to mention her professional studio practice through which she has shown her work in numerous gallery/community exhibitions and published multiple books of poetry. It has truly been a pleasure to befriend Isabell and keep in touch with her.

My initial encounter and continued contact with Isabell—in combination with my experiences facilitating art endeavors within the special needs community—encouraged me to look into the possibility of a position at Matheny Arts Access. Although there were no openings in the Visual Arts department, my application caught the attention of Program Director Heather Williams, who generously gave me and my mom a tour of the facility and its excellent programs. She then connected me with Julia Bono, Outreach and Events Manager, who arranged the volunteer opportunity aforementioned and has already laid out another one for the summer. I have really appreciated assisting Julia with the installation of the work and becoming acquainted with her both in an art administrative context and as a contemporary.

I am profoundly grateful to Heather and Julia Bono for orchestrating this wonderful opportunity at Matheny Arts Access, and of course to Isabell and her loving mom for introducing me to the program. Investing my time and skills into supporting the exhibition of art, especially by those at Matheny who deserve such an outlet to share their passion and even profit from it, has been a very special and incredibly rewarding experience. I am looking forward to helping out further in the future. 🖼️🤝🏻

The logo of Matheny Arts Access

The visitor pass I wore while volunteering