UNIQUE 2012 - Arise

UNIQUE
The Art & Literary Magazine 2012
published by

Self Portrait
Anna-Marie Kuiper
Fiber Art
33 ½” x 44 ½”
Anna-Marie Kuiper, 43, lives in Hamilton,
and has earned a degree as a registered
diet technician. She creates art in order
to show what she sees and feels living
with schizophrenia. Self Portrait shows
hallucinations and delusions bursting out of
the top of her head, blending into the chaos of
the background. First year in UNIQUE

UNIQUE
Premier Sponsor
The Drescher Corporation
Twelfth Edition Sponsors
J.W. Burns & Company Investment Counsel
Haylor, Freyer & Coon, Inc.
Patrons of the Arts
The Bonadio Group
PurEnergy L.L.C.
Relph Benefit Advisors
V.I.P. Structures, Inc.
Friends of UNIQUE
Adam’s Apple Services, Inc.
Tania S. Anderson
Tim, Sue & Robert George
INFICON
Media Sponsors
Opening Exhibit Partner
EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART

UNIQUE
Publisher
ARISE Child and Family Service, Inc.
Key ARISE Staff
Tom McKeown, Executive Director
Nancy Kern Kronen, Director of Development & PR
Editorial Board
Carol Charles, Syracuse Stage
Linda Erb, Ohgoodygoody.com
Tim Fox, NewsChannel 9 WSYR
Steven Kern, Everson Museum of Art
Sean Kirst, The Post Standard
Agnes McCray, Community Advocate
Michael Theobald, Writer & Community Advocate
Editorial Staff
Elizabeth Dunn, Managing Editor
Gigina Long, Editorial Assistant
Frank Vair, Editorial Assistant
Submission Process
UNIQUE is published annually to display the creative work
of people with disabilities living in Central New York. We
welcome submissions of written and visual art. Guidelines
and deadlines for UNIQUE 2013 will be announced in March
2013 and available on the ARISE and UNIQUE websites.
Alternative Formats
Portions of UNIQUE are available in alternative formats upon
request. Please contact ARISE at (315) 472-3171.
UNIQUE
Contact UNIQUE
UNIQUE Magazine
c/o ARISE
635 James Street
Syracuse, NY 13203
uniquemagazine.org
UNIQUE is made possible through the support of corporate
sponsorships and individual donors across Central New York.
iv

From Sean Kirst, Columnist, The Post Standard
Many years ago, when I was in college, I needed a part-time
job. My mother had the answer. She was a cleaning woman
in an old brick building known as a school for “exceptional
children.” What it essentially was, in a less enlightened
time, was a boarding school for children and young adults
born with a spectrum of what we now call developmental
disabilities. In a culture less tolerant of differences, these
young people were removed from the general population and
thrown into this isolated school, a long walk along a busy
highway from any city neighborhood.
The school hired me to be a “residential counselor.” The job
involved working each day with a group of maybe one dozen
junior high students, essentially joining them for each step of
their routine - from the moment school ended until they went
to bed. To be honest, I was frightened on my first day of
work: I had no experience in the field, and I was startled by
what I initially perceived as an array of unusual behaviors.
What I learned – and learned quickly – was how fortunate
I was to get the job. I compare it now to the burst of
revelation, of entirely new thought, that accompanies
learning a new language. These young people had a
tremendous reservoir of insight, humor, empathy, and
wisdom. Within weeks, as they gradually began to trust me,
I realized what a gift it was to be allowed into their world.
The experience remains one of the core revelations of my life,
and it has everything to do with the way I see the specific
entries in this publication and show. It is instructive simply to
view each piece as art, based on the typical definition. But it
becomes utterly transformative, an entranceway to brilliance,
if you see the entries as art on its highest level - a portal, a
place where we cease to be strangers. Look at it that way,
and even the name rises anew: The show defines community,
yet remains UNIQUE.
v

UNIQUE
From Elizabeth L. Dunn, UNIQUE Managing Editor
UNIQUE submission season is always so exciting at ARISE.
We are never short on amazement and admiration as the
pieces come in. I do not envy the Editorial Board members as
they select which of the pieces will be published.
127 talented individuals submitted visual and written work
for consideration. Just under half were artists or writers new
to UNIQUE. While the record number of people submitting
creative pieces certainly speaks to the growing interest in
the magazine and art exhibits, we feel the quality of work
is the more impressive area of growth. The depth of talent
displayed in these pages is truly inspiring.
We thank the Editorial Board, editorial staff, our sponsors,
and all the artists who submitted work for making this
publication possible.
Enjoy.
About ARISE
ARISE is an Independent Living Center run by and for people
with disabilities.
Our mission is to work with people of all abilities to
create a fair and just community in which everyone can
fully participate. We are guided by the philosophy that
individuals with disabilities have a right to dignity, personal
responsibility, and self-determination.
Through more than 50 programs, we offer services in
Onondaga, Oswego, and Madison Counties. Some programs
vary by county and some are available in additional counties
in Central and Northern New York
f o u n d a t i o n
About ARISE Foundation
The ARISE Foundation seeks to promote, solicit, receive,
provide stewardship, and administer gifts, bequests,
endowments or any charitable contributions made in support
of the mission, programs, and activities of ARISE.
vi

Table of Contents
FRONT COVER: Anna-Marie Kuiper,
Self Portrait............................................ii
BACK COVER: Michele A. Gafrancesco,
Purple Mountains Majesty.........................1
BACK COVER: Chrsitine Eldred,
T O D A Y...............................................1
Joseph Rufo, Friend...............................2
Evan Freeley, Mazda..............................2
Marie Martin, Untitled............................3
Craig Champlin, Fall in the Forest............3
Mark Barry, Confidence & Consequence....4
Brian Haher, Colors in the Dark...............4
Donna Walrath, New Life........................5
Christina Gristwood,
My Eyes Are on You.................................5
Jason Stastny, Spring Flowers in Bloom....6
Robert Cram, Chittenango Falls...............6
Christopher Duck, The Giant Eagle..........7
Ronald (Raysean) Broughton,
Ray the 80’s & 90’s DJ.............................7
Tim Bennett, Every 15 Minutes 2012........8
Beata Karpinska-Prehn,
Interpretation of The Dream by Picasso......8
Amanda Townsend, Natural...................9
Paul Brennan, Still Life Abstraction..........9
Robert M. Szpak,
Man With Three Stars............................10
Jeremy Kelley, Starry Starry Night......... 10
Jennifer Dunlop, My Loving Dad............ 11
Erica Sorar, Stool of My Life.................. 11
Jeffrey Harrington, My Sister Megan..... 12
Kristina Jordan, Marshmello Man........... 12
Melissa Sorar,
International House of Eyes.................... 13
Stephen Marris, garden arbor............... 13
Kristen Webb, Sunset for Dad............... 14
Timothy Wobus, Rainforest Canopy....... 14
Dennis Pullen Jr., Warm Embrace......... 15
Kathy Williams, Life Stages.................. 15
Vivian A. Golding, Pitcher of Flowers...... 16
Laura Masuicca, Language of Love........ 16
Jaylenne Moore, Fairy Tale Owl............. 17
Matthew Peterson, The Dam................ 17
Derek Grindle, Curve Ball..................... 18
Jennifer A. Fulco, Ivy on Dementia........ 18
Derek Curtis, The Mare in the Moon....... 19
Roger Henley,
Irish Wedding Toasting Goblet................. 19
Bernard Wren, Adirondack Scene.......... 20
Josh Webster, Love Hurts..................... 20
Maria Reid, The Start of Something New.21
Kim Harvey, A Glance of Introspection.... 21
Sarah Hamlin, When All Is Lost............. 22
Lizzie Watson, Twilight........................23
Chloe Newman, In The Trees................ 23
Mitchell Ciarpelli, Hovering Octopus...... 24
Jeremiah Werden, Leaves of Fall........... 24
Paul Bohrer, Forest Fire........................ 25
Erin Kelley, Madonna and Child.............. 25
Stacey Weimer, Quilt - patch work........ 26
Richard Rowley, Gone Fishing............... 26
Joanne Mark, True Meaning of Love....... 27
Luann Knight, Charged Storm Clouds..... 28
Benjamin Cooper, Infrared Magnolia...... 28
Jessica Bero, The Angel of the Ocean..... 29
Eyal Sherman, Spring is Here!............... 29
Amber Micek, blue morning.................. 30
Sue Ellis, A Voice of Spring Flowers........ 30
Kevin Mulder, Piazza............................31
Carleen Giannotti, Red Moon Rising....... 31
Honorable Mentions...............................32
vii

Purple
Mountains Majesty
Michele A. Gafrancesco
Acrylic on Canvas
20” x 16”
T O D A Y
Christine Eldred
Today ran away from itself too quickly!
Having seen itself in the mirror,
seeing the loss of itself daily,
the glass reflects it’s trouble.
It spends a moment to think about it all and too
soon it becomes yesterday.
How could you have done that, today, ~ were you
ever here?
It is now only yesterday and it was gone!
Melting into memories as we speak,
Today has gone by way too fast again.
Unfortunately it has gone by way too fast to last.
Now, today becomes yesterday and it is gone.......
It is gone.
Memories of today are all we have.
Michele Gafrancesco, 90, is a WWII veteran
who started painting after taking an art course.
Mike was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 45,
uses a wheelchair, and is still going strong. Purple
Mountains Majesty was inspired by a memory from
his youth. Previously in UNIQUE 2009, 2010, 2011
Christine Eldred was in a car accident at 17 and
sustained a traumatic brain injury. Now 48, she uses
poetry to express her feelings about her disability
and how she is perceived by others. T O D A Y is a
poem that reflects on the fleeting nature of time.
Previously in UNIQUE 2008, 2008, 2010, 2011
1

Friend
Joseph Rufo
Oil on Paper
20 ½” x 20 ¾”
Mazda
Evan Freeley
Acrylic on Canvas
20” x 16”
Joseph Rufo, 19, finds that painting gives him a
chance to express himself and not be defined by
having Down syndrome. Friend was inspired by one
of his favorite TV shows, Seinfeld, and Joseph chose
the colors to represent energy. Previously in UNIQUE
2010, 2011
Evan Freely is 21, loves cars, and has Marfan
syndrome. He enjoys painting with bright colors
because he finds it relaxing. Evan painted Mazda
while he was relaxed and in a good mood, and feels
the colors reflect those emotions. Previously in
UNIQUE 2011
2

Untitled
Marie Martin
Please excuse me for being demanding
but you’re there when you want to
Please excuse me for having a plan
It doesn’t begin with you
Please excuse how I feel
I doubt that you’re physically there
anyway
So I don’t have to lose my mind
thinking that you’re there
Because it’s just a thought
Why couldn’t I figure this out before?
Fall in the Forest
Craig Champlin
Oil on Canvas
16” x 20”
Marie Martin is a 23-year-old poet living in
Syracuse. She finds poetry allows her to express
herself and to help others. Marie’s inspiration comes
from music and life. Her untitled poem expresses
relationship values and living life to the fullest. First
year in UNIQUE
Craig Champlin is 26 and a native of Chittenango
who enjoys the outdoors and painting. His
inspiration for Fall in the Forest was the artist Bob
Ross. The painting was created in a class where
Craig studied art using a Bob Ross painting guide
book. Previously in UNIQUE 2010
3

Confidence &
Consequence
Mark Barry
Mixed Media on Canvas
35” x 24”
Colors in the Dark
Brian Haher
Acrylic on Canvas
10 ½” x 13 ½”
Mark Barry, 23, takes inspiration from the classic
masters as well as tattoo and graffiti artists. He
started using a wheelchair following an accident, but
says he still does anything he wants. Confidence &
Consequence was created to be colorful and fun with
a lot of energy. First year in UNIQUE
Brian Haher is 24, has autism, and lives in Tully.
Like his favorite painters, Paul Klee and Pablo
Picasso, Brian loves to paint objects from his
imagination. Colors in the Dark is a painting based
on a dream he had of fireworks going across the
night sky like a rainbow. First year in UNIQUE
4

New Life
Donna Walrath
New born fawn.
Cold.
Teeth chattering.
Huddles against tall sturdy maple for warmth.
Cries tears.
Mama hears.
come to take her baby home.
Journey ends.
My Eyes Are on You
Christina Gristwood
Mixed Media on Paper
18 ½” x 24”
Donna Walrath, 61, started writing poetry in 2004,
but has been writing stories since she was young.
She attends a writer’s workshop twice a month
and finds writing helps her manage her depression
and anxiety. New Life reflects the safety found in a
mother’s love. Previously in UNIQUE 2011
Christina Gristwood is 42 and the mother of five
kids. She finds creating art makes her feel happy
and like she can do something worthwhile after
her accident. My Eyes Are on You is a watercolor
impression. Even if you cannot see the owl, it is
keeping an eye on you. First year in UNIQUE
5

Spring Flowers
In Bloom
Jason Stastny
Oil on Canvas
16” x 20”
Chittenango Falls
Robert Cram
Photography
10 ½” x 8”
Jason Stastny is a 27-year-old man who lives in
Erieville and has Down syndrome. Creating art helps
him feel relaxed and calm. Jason spent three weeks
in a painting class working on Spring Flowers in
Bloom to capture the beauty of the roses. Previously
in UNIQUE 2010
Robert Cram, 30, has lived in Chittenango his
entire life. He enjoys being outdoors, hiking and
camping in the area around his home. Inspired by
his scenic hometown, this photograph depicts the
beauty and power of Chittenango Falls. First year in
UNIQUE
6

The Giant Eagle
Christopher Duck
Acrylic on Canvas
20” x 16”
Ray the 80’s & 90’s DJ
Ronald (Raysean)
Broughton
Crayon on Paper
8 ½” x 11”
Christopher Duck, a 42-year-old native of
Utica, views art as a hobby and is inspired by his
older brother, Scott. The Giant Eagle is one of
Christopher’s many recent paintings of birds. He
enjoys the bright colors, size, and boldness of the
eagle. Previously in UNIQUE 2006
Ronald (Raysean) Broughton, 23, has autism
and Asperger’s syndrome, and was taught how to
draw at age four by his father and uncles. Ray the
80’s & 90’s DJ is a self-portrait that shows his love
of music, art, and his hobby as the family DJ. First
year in UNIQUE
7

Every 15 Minutes 2012
Tim Bennett
Photography
10 ½” x 8”
Interpretation of
The Dream by Picasso
Beata Karpinska-Prehn
Oil on Art Board
16” x 20”
Tim Bennett, a 21-year-old Manlius native, uses
his camera to capture the world around him. He
has ADHD and hypertonia, and has been taking
pictures with his mother for about 10 years. Every
15 Minutes 2012 is a caution against drinking and
texting while driving. First year in UNIQUE
Beata Karpinska-Prehn is 48 and came to
America as a political refugee from Poland. She has
a chemical sensitivity and asthma. The painting,
inspired by Picasso’s piece, The Dream, is dedicated
to her husband and depicts a woman in love. First
year in UNIQUE
8

Natural
Amanda Townsend
Nature is like feeling like fall,
Everything is changing,
But the world is the same,
As you are looking straight,
And I use my imagination,
It will take me,
Into a fantasy,
An ordinary land,
When lying on the leaves,
Talking about my love.
Still Life Abstraction
Paul Brennan
Watercolor on Paper
11 ½” x 16 ¾”
Amanda Townsend is a 21-year-old artist and
writer living in Manlius with her family. She has
Down syndrome, and uses art and writing to help
her in self-discovery and to express her feelings.
Natural explores the themes of love and change.
Previously in UNIQUE 2009, 2010
Paul Brennan is 15 and finished his first year in
the Fayetteville-Manlius High School Art Club. He
loves creating art with his friends, but finds painting
challenging because he is colorblind. Tim likes Still
Life Abstraction, which he painted in cool and hot
colors. First year in UNIQUE
9

Man With Three Stars
Robert M. Szpak
Oil Pastel and Pencil
on Paper
10 ½” x 13 ½”
Starry Starry Night
Jeremy Kelley
Crayon on Paper
13 ½” x 10 ½”
Robert M. Szpak, 63, has schizoaffective
disorder and is motivated by the joy of creating
art. He is inspired by Picasso and Matisse.
The stars in Man with Three Stars represent
the Holy Trinity and their influence on his life.
Previously in UNIQUE 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Jeremy Kelley is 20, has autism, and lives with his
family in Constantia. He found he was good at art
in school and enjoyed it. If Jeremy sees a picture,
he finds it easy to re-create it. Starry Starry Night
is a colorful crayon take on the classic van Gogh
painting. Previously in UNIQUE 2008, 2009, 2011
10

My Loving Dad
Jennifer Dunlop
When I was a little girl I sat on Daddy’s knee
And he’d whisper in my ear
How very much he loved me
Little girl grown ten years old
Still has Daddy’s hand to hold
Little girl now of thirteen years
But still we share our joys and tears
As the years go by, little girl no longer
But together we learn, live and grow stronger
Now eighteen years old, an adult they say
But I’m still Daddy’s little girl
Who sat on his knee
And as I grow into adulthood and mature
There is still one thing of which I’m sure
My loving Dad you always are
You’re in my heart
Whether near or far
Stool of My Life
Erica Sorar
Acrylic on Wood
13” dia. x 29 ¼”
Jennifer Dunlop has been writing poetry since she
was 8. Now 18, she still writes to process thoughts,
feelings, and manage her disability. My Loving Dad
was written as a gift for her father to show how
much she loves and appreciates him. Previously in
UNIQUE 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
Erica Sorar, 19, lives in Fulton, has a mild
intellectual disability, and loves horses and other
animals. Art helps her to express her feelings. Stool
of My Life started with a simple wooden stool that
took on a life of its own as Erica added color, design,
and personal touches. First year in UNIQUE
11

My Sister Megan
Jeffrey Harrington
Pencil and Pastel on Paper
7 ¼” x 9 ¼”
Marshmello Man
Kristina Jordan
Photography
10 ½” x 8”
Jeffrey Harrington is 21, has autism, and uses
art to express his emotions and feelings. He is also
a photographer and creates his own note cards.
Jeff created My Sister Megan to show how much
he cares about her as she graduates high school.
Previously in UNIQUE 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Kristina Jordan is a 27-year-old photographer
who has a seizure disorder. She creates art in order
to relax her mind and get rid of the drama in her
life. Marshmello Man was taken while cloud-gazing.
One of the clouds reminded her of the Stay Puft
Marshmallow Man. First year in UNIQUE
12

International
House of Eyes
Melissa Sorar
Mixed Media
11 ½” x 6 ½” x 14”
garden arbor
Stephen Marris
Photography
10 ½” x 8”
Melissa Sorar is 19, lives in Fulton, and has a mild
intellectual disability. An artist since the age of 5,
her inspiration comes from nature, animals, and
other people. International House of Eyes explores
the diversity of people throughout the world.
Previously in UNIQUE 2011
Stephen Marris, 28, has Cornelia de Lange
syndrome and is able to express himself in many
ways including dancing, singing, and theater. He has
close ties to his community and loves to be creative.
He took garden arbor at a local farm as part of a
photography workshop. First year in UNIQUE
13

Sunset for Dad
Kristen Webb
Watercolor and Guache
on Paper
19” x 14 ½”
Rainforest Canopy
Timothy Wobus
Acrylic on Canvas
14 ¼” x 18 ½”
Kristen Webb is a 27-year-old recent graduate of
the Access Program at Syracuse University who has
cerebral palsy. She painted Sunset for Dad from one
of her father’s favorite photographs of a sunset. The
painting usually hangs in his office. Previously in
UNIQUE 2010, 2011
Timothy Wobus is 27, has autism, is non-verbal,
and was the UNIQUE 2011 cover artist. He loves
to paint, and is focused and enthusiastic while
creating. Family and friends believe his artwork
represents his thoughts and emotions. Previously in
UNIQUE 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
14

Warm Embrace
Dennis Pullen
A warm embrace I’ll never be able to know
But the feeling of her breast against my face tells me so
A feeling that won’t be so easy to forget and let go
The unfortunate feeling of love I lost ages ago
Forgotten the warm touch of her hand
The warm embrace that makes you enjoy being a man
Some everyday feeling of a man that I’ll never be able
to understand
Forever forgotten the feeling of a lover’s hand
Darkened hearts often lie
Because of no warm embrace of her hand is why at
night I cry
All the reasoning in this lonely and still no
understanding of the reasons why
Wasn’t I enough, and why does she now sleep holding
another guy?
Wanting her embrace
Just a warm touch from her hand to my face, now all
lost feeling disgrace
No, no other girl or lover to take her place
No, not someone other, some day or other I’ll find my
distant wanted embrace
Life Stages
Kathy Williams
Paper Cast
33 ½” x 12”
Dennis Pullen is a 32-year-old poet and artist
from Oswego, whose interests also include travel,
reading, and collecting movies. Warm Embrace is
an exploration about the longing for a loving touch
between a man and a woman. Previously in UNIQUE
2004, 2009
Kathy Williams, 60, is a former early-childhood
teacher and a grandmother of three. Life Stages is
a metaphor for the life of a traumatic brain injury
survivor. Like a butterfly, the last stage of recovery
involves flying free to beautify the community. First
year in UNIQUE
15

Pitcher of Flowers
Vivian A. Golding
Computer-Generated
8 ½” x 6”
Language of Love
Laura Masuicca
Pastel on Paper
9” x 12”
Vivian A. Golding is a 69-year-old devoted wife,
mother, and grandmother. She views art as therapy
to help with her multiple sclerosis. Pitcher of Flowers
features soothing colors to reflect the quiet moment
she experienced while creating it. Previously in
UNIQUE 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Laura Masuicca, 47, sustained a severe back
injury in 2007, and keeps busy through crocheting,
drawing, and painting. Language of Love was
inspired by her interest in sign language and
represents love and acceptance for all, regardless of
disability or lifestyle. Previously in UNIQUE 2009
16

Fairy Tale Owl
Jaylenne Moore
Ceramics
9 ½” x 12”
The Dam
Matthew Peterson
Acrylic on Canvas
20” x 16”
Jaylenne Moore, 32, has the degenerative eye
disorder Retinitis Pigementosa, and thought she
would have to stop creating art. Through art therapy
teachers, she discovered clay. Fairy Tale Owl uses
both color and texture, and is meant to be enjoyed
by feel as much as by sight. First year in UNIQUE
Matthew Peterson is 21, lives in Utica, and enjoys
gaming, skateboarding, and BMX racing. He takes
artistic inspiration from his interests. The Dam is a
depiction of Reindeer Lake in Canada. In it, Matthew
exercised blending colors and worked with different
techniques. First year in UNIQUE
17

Curve Ball
Derek Grindle
Photography
11 ½” x 4 ½”
As years pass on by,
the mind gets fretted and cluttered
like an Ivy League school tower.
The memories of past tower on by
and the lashes lash off the eye.
A series of blinks
like a series of winks
bring on the questions
of brilliance of a future so uncertain.
The grey matter
clings to a daughter so dutiful,
so hopeful....
So dementia is slowed
and paused for brief moments of clarity.
Mother can win Trivial Pursuit,
but trying to memorize new faces or new names
is more difficult than an engineer’s calculus.
Once an art teacher,
always an expressionist
and painting comes easy
and the easel is comfort
in a presence of mazes–
trying to make coherence in the presence.
With nature, she tries to damask her Ivy on Dementia.
Ivy on Dementia
Jennifer A. Fulco
Derek Grindle is 22 and creates art to release
frustration. Curve Ball is a collage of photos of
details on buildings in Oswego. Derek then placed,
cut, and manipulated them to show the curves
instead of straight lines. Previously in UNIQUE 2004,
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Jennifer A. Fulco, 44, uses poetry as a tool to
focus less on the mood swings and cycles of her
bipolar disorder and to emerge as a creator. Ivy
on Dementia is a metaphorical piece about her
mother’s struggle with dementia. Previously in
UNIQUE 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
18

The Mare in the Moon
Derek Curtis
Chalk on Paper
14 ½” x 14 ½”
Irish Wedding
Toasting Goblet
Roger Henley
Wood Working
2 ¼” dia. x 5 ½”
Derek Curtis is 20, lives in Liverpool, and enjoys
creating fan art (art inspired by TV, movies, or other
media) through drawing and computer-generated
forms. The Mare in the Moon was inspired by the
villainess in his favorite television program, My Little
Pony: Friendship is Magic. First Year in UNIQUE
Roger Henley, 64, has arthritis which limits his
mobility. He still enjoys fishing, travel, Civil War
history, and wood-working. The goblet he created
is based on a 17th Century design and was carved,
ring and all, from a single piece of wood. Previously
in UNIQUE 2009
19

Adirondack Scene
Bernard Wren
Oil on Art Board
20” x 16”
Love Hurts
Josh Webster
Acrylic on Canvas
16” x 20”
Bernard Wren, is a 51-year-old artist from East
Herkimer who has a learning disability. He started
painting two years ago after watching Bob Ross on
TV and enrolling in an art class, and is now a prolific
landscape artist. Adirondack Scene was painted as a
scenic view for a friend. First year in UNIQUE
Josh Webster is 23, lives in Mexico, and has a
traumatic brain injury. His inspiration comes from
the heart, and he just lets the brush go. Love Hurts
shows the resilience of the heart despite hardships
and scars encountered in life. Previously in UNIQUE
2008, 2009, 2010
20

The Start of
Something New
Maria Reid
Oil on Paper
8 ¼” x 8 ¼”
A Glance of
Introspection
Kim Harvey
Acrylic on Canvas
16” x 20”
Maria Reid is a 19-year-old artist who does not see
her bipolar disorder as a disability. She has been
creating since she was in 5th grade, and “takes on
art of all forms.” The Start of Something New is a
reworking of Maria’s prior pieces in oil. Previously in
UNIQUE 2010
Kim Harvey, 42, uses art to deal with the emotions
of having a traumatic brain injury and PTSD.
Her artistic inspiration is Al Held and his use of
shapes and objects in depths of colors. A Glance of
Introspection shows the complexity that lies within
each of us. First year in UNIQUE
21

The grass sprouts up from the dirt
When All Is Lost
The snow comes to tuck it away
Sarah Hamlin
The leaves drift to the earth in rainbows
As fall comes, and as it leaves
Birds hide their nests in trees
And put on a concert of song
When everything seems doomed to fail
I am with you, fighting for you.
As the mother for her baby
As the husband for his wife
As the soldier for his country.
There is purpose in everything
Someone is feeling something
New parents are marveling at their newborn
While someone places a rose on a fallen loved one’s grave,
The memories of their life tucked away.
Like the fire on a frigid day
A girl is first kissed
A baby boy says his first word
Over a webcam and touches the hand of his daddy stationed overseas
A wife wipes a tear from her eye when it’s time to say goodbye.
When all is lost
When all is scattered about like the wind-tossed seeds of a flower
And you feel you are just drifting along
Going with the flow of things
Stand strong and believe
That in everything
There is rhythm.
As the sun rises in the east and sets in the west
As life goes on and on
When everything within you seems doomed to fail
I am with you
fighting for you
looking down at you.
When you swear you hear the wind talk to you
And you open your eyes to look up
Be still and know that I am God.
And one day
When you feel lost and alone and things aren’t going your way
Still, I am with you
And I am fighting for you
Because I love you.
Sarah Hamlin is 16 and has been writing since she was 7. She realized she could use her talent to help
others better understand the need for equality and inclusion. When All Is Lost was inspired by a need to
understand God’s will for her life. Previously in UNIQUE 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
22

Twilight
Lizzie Watson
Gouache on Paper
13 ½” x 18 ½”
In The Trees
Chloe Newman
I climb the tree, the breezes
on me. I sit on the branches, then
choose one, I sit there ‘til
my surveying is done. Stay
there I shall, maybe not. I
sit there and stay there because
it’s not hot. I think about
pollution, wanting a solution.
I sit there in the tree
thinking and thanking the fact
that, nature’s with me.
I think of hugging the tree,
but then I see an ant, and
that thought’s over for me.
Nature’s amazing, take that from me.
Lizzie Watson is 19, and lives in Fayetteville with
her family. She has cerebral palsy and a seizure
disorder, and started creating art at a young age.
Twilight uses warm colors because they reflect
Lizzie’s peaceful thoughts when she painted it.
Previously in UNIQUE 2009, 2011
Chloe Newman is an 11-year-old poet from
Schroeppel. She has Aspergers, and writes to both
entertain herself and express her feelings. Chloe
was inspired to write In The Trees while climbing
her favorite tree. It explores her feelings about her
surroundings. First year in UNIQUE
23

Hovering Octopus
Mitchell Ciarpelli
Paper Cast
8 ¾” x 9 ½”
Leaves of Fall
Jeremiah Werden
Oil on Canvas
16” x 20”
Mitchell Ciarpelli, 60, feels art is important and
spends a great deal of time perfecting his pieces. He
has had a one-man show at Provisions Restaurant.
Hovering Octopus was made by first creating the
mold, making a paper cast, and finally adding color
with pastels. Previously in UNIQUE 2010
Jeremiah Werden is 27 and lives in Hubbardsville.
He enjoys NASCAR, country music, and movies.
He finds it relaxing to paint, and enjoys creating
landscapes and peaceful settings. Leaves of Fall
uses Bob Ross for stylistic inspiration and depicts
seasonal changes. Previously in UNIQUE 2010
24

Forest Fire
Paul Bohrer
Acrylic on Canvas
20 ” x 16”
Madonna and Child
Erin Kelley
Paper Cast
6” x 7 ½”
Paul Bohrer, 25, lives in Clinton, likes to camp, and
helps out at the local fire department. He joined a
fine arts class and discovered he enjoyed painting
landscapes and the bright colors of the sky. Forest
Fire shows the bright colors he likes to paint. First
year in UNIQUE
Erin Kelley, 54, lives in Cicero with three
roommates and likes to keep busy. Much of her
artistic inspiration comes from the Bible. Madonna
and Child was created by making a mold, then
taking a cast using shredded paper and water.
Previously in UNIQUE 2007, 2010, 2011
25

Quilt - patch work
Stacey Weimer
Fiber Art
45 ½” x 46”
Gone Fishing
Richard Rowley
Mixed Media
15” x 19 ¼”
Stacy Weimer is a 24-year-old crafter from
Chittenango who also enjoys riding horses and
showing goats. She started making quilts with her
grandmother when she was young. She finds sewing
and quilting relaxing, and is proud when she finishes
a project. Previously in UNIQUE 2011
Richard Rowley, 68, worked as a tool and die
maker for 38 years, and is an avid fisherman. His
grandfather got him started when he was young,
and he passed this love on to his sons. Gone Fishing
is a watercolor impression and shows his deep love
of the sport. Previously in UNIQUE 2008, 2009
26

True Meaning of Love
Joanne Mark
It began as a promise we made to a dying father.
We said we would look after Mother and keep her safe.
Take her shopping, help with the chores, bring her to
doctor appointments were just a few of the many things
we did for her. As time went on, she forgot to pay the
bills, she didn’t take the right medicine, she wouldn’t
get dressed and sometimes she would take the phone
off the hook and forget to put it back. We brought her
to live with us. At first it was going to be temporary,
perhaps just a few months until she regulated her
medicine, got back to her old self.
At first she enjoyed her stay with us. “Retired
and loving it” was her motto. She could spend all day
relaxing and watching old movies. Then the drifting
away began. As soon as the sun went down, so did her
spirit. To compensate, she tried her own art by using
crayons and colored pencils. Such an artist she had
become, carefully staying inside the lines and refusing
to have dinner until she made the finishing touches.
Perhaps a budding Grandma Moses was on the horizon?
Soon it became, “please eat all your food.” “Of course
you can have your stuffed animals in bed with you.
Let’s comb your hair before bed and we’ll leave the
door open and a light on, promise.” Often, she would
ask where the bedroom was, and where she was. She
drifted farther away each day. She stopped reading the
paper; did not want to help with the cooking or folding
laundry anymore. It was a huge trauma to just sign her
name. Favorite pastimes such as: playing cards, bingo,
crocheting came to a halt. She was lost, 88 years
old and afraid of the dark. She had dementia, kidney
failure, and poor eyesight. She was some place else.
Now I sit and look at the empty chair.
One summer night confused and disoriented, she
fell out of bed. A series of hospital visits, late nights
worrying about her safety and eventually a room in a
nursing home. Now I see my husband of almost forty
years fulfilling the promise to his father, but tormented
by the question of doing the “right thing.” She can no
longer walk or feed herself. The woman, who took care
of him as a child, now wears a bib. After each visit, he
gives her a hug, asks if she knows who he is, is she
happy, does she feel safe? She replies, “I love you,
son.” He leaves the door open as he tells her, “Good
Night, Mom, I love you too, pleasant dreams.”
Joanne Mark is a 59-year-old writer and gardener living in Elbridge. After she was diagnosed with MS in
2001, she began to journal the changes in her life. True Meaning of Love is a creative non-fiction story about
the changes that come from living with a family member who has dementia. First year in UNIQUE
27

Charged Storm Clouds
Luann Knight
Acrylic on Art Board
16” x 20”
Infrared Magnolia
Benjamin Cooper
Photography
13” x 10”
Luann Knight is 58 and lives in Oswego. She uses
her disabilities to strengthen her character. Art gives
her the freedom to express her point of view. In
Charged Storm Clouds, Luann painted her anger
onto the canvas. Previously in UNIQUE 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Benjamin Cooper, 43, lives in Syracuse and is an
accomplished photographer. Infrared Magnolia is
a digital infrared photograph. This is a technique
that uses a special camera lens which photographs
the reflected infrared spectrum from an object.
Previously in UNIQUE 2011
28

The Angel of the Ocean
Jessica Bero
Photography
10 ½” x 13 ½”
Spring is Here!
Eyal Sherman
Acrylic on Canvas
20” x 16”
Jessica Bero has been a photographer since she
took a photography class in high school. She is 25,
has Down syndrome, and is inspired by the glory of
nature, especially sunrises and clouds. The Angel of
the Ocean was captured while vacationing at Virginia
Beach. Previously in UNIQUE 2008
Eyal Sherman is a 31-year-old Syracuse native
with a BA in Fine Arts from Syracuse University. He
has been quadriplegic since the age of 5 and paints
using a mouth-stick and brush. Spring is Here! was
painted after a long Syracuse winter. Previously in
UNIQUE 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
29

lue morning
Amber Micek
Watercolor and Ink on Paper
10 ¼” x 5 ¼”
A voice I hear singing
Sweet as spring
As high as the mountains
A voice of sunshine
A voice of spring flowers
Beautiful she is to me
Hear her in my dreams
A voice I can only hear
Tomorrow’s sunshine
Rain and rainbows
A voice of spring flowers
A song of love
Hear her in my dreams
Wish I could see her
Voice in my dreams
A voice of spring flowers
Voice I hear sing
Beautiful is she
Sweet as spring
The mountains so high
A voice I wish was mine
A Voice of
Spring Flowers
Sue Ellis
Amber Micek is 34 and lives in Syracuse. She is
inspired by her mother and late uncle to create art,
and finds it helps her to manage her schizoaffective
and bipolar disorders. She loves color, design, and
the beauty of nature, which can be seen in blue
morning. Previously in UNIQUE 2010, 2011
Sue Ellis, 61, is a poet whose epilepsy and mild
intellectual disability do not hinder her creativity.
She began writing after the death of John F.
Kennedy in 1963 and has written over 500 poems.
A Voice of Spring Flowers expresses the beauty of
God’s creation. Previously in UNIQUE 2010, 2011
30

Piazza
Kevin Mulder
Hand-Pulled Print on Paper
4” x 6”
Red Moon Rising
Carleen Giannotti
Acrylic on Canvas
41” x 27”
Kevin Mulder is a 21-year-old man with autism
who has many talents. He is inspired by pop artists
like Andy Warhol and Lady Gaga, and enjoys fashion
design and cartooning. Piazza is a one-of-a-kind
hand-pulled block print which Kevin created, starting
from the design. First year in UNIQUE
Carleen Giannotti is 54, uses a wheelchair due
to cerebral palsy, and has always believed in her
creative abilities. Red Moon Rising was made using
the Art Realization Technologies program which
uses a laser beam and point system to guide brush
strokes. First year in UNIQUE
31

UNIQUE
UNIQUE Contributors
Tom & Lynne McKeown
Onondaga Hearing Services
UNIQUE Donors
Anna & Ronald Dennison
Linda Erb
Maurie Heins
Sue & Ed Judge
Nancy Kern Kronen & R. Douglas Eaton
Support ARISE and UNIQUE
Your charitable contribution is a strong statement that you share our
commitment to celebrating the artistic expression of people of all
abilities. Your donation to UNIQUE or other ARISE programs makes
it possible for us to continue to provide a wide array of services for
people who have all types of disabilities in Central and Northern
New York.
ARISE is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. To make a
contribution, use our secure online form at ariseinc.org or mail a
check to: ARISE, 635 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203
To learn more about ARISE, please visit our website at ariseinc.org
or call us at (315) 472-3171.
Thank you for your generosity.
Honorable Mentions
The UNIQUE Editorial Board recognizes the talent and creativity of the following artists and writers:
Gabriel Beltran
Colton Fox
Joseph Lisi
Heather Romanek
Joshua Bender
Casey Fuller
Eric Lubey
Hannah Rufo
Diane Budnar
Vicky Giangatti
Shawn T. Mack
Matthew Sardino
David Burns
Jody Goff
Linda L. MacLeod-Fuller
Zachary Smith
Tyler Caiello
Ryan Goldacker
Nancy Marshfield
Bonita Tanney
Ian Coe
Kim Grindle
Dick McCarthy
Anastasia Vance
Jacqueline Colone
David Guernsey
Connor McHale
Joseph VanGelder
Savanna Conroy
Jodie Lynn Gunthorpe
George Miller
Karen Voas
Quran Dansby
Patricia Gyurik
Elizabeth Miner
Melinda Voutsinas
Suzanne DeMarzo
Robert L. Harmon
Lindsay Mitchell
Mike Weyher
April Dennis
Beverly Humphrey
Beverly Omes
Linda Wilder
William J. Donovan, Jr.
Elissa K. Hyre
Kenneth Pisiak
Mary Wilson
Esther Dygert
Steven Ingerson
Shawn T. Plunkett
Tom Wolford
Theodora A. Emch
Katrina Katura
Chris Poirier
Gladys Wood
Ray Every
Sujit Kurup
Oramella Putman
Larry Wood
Aleksey Fiorenza
Rachel Lewis
Alicia Richer
Charles FitzPatrick
Dawn Liddle
Kathleen Roland

T O D A Y
Today ran away from itself too quickly!
Having seen itself in the mirror,
seeing the loss of itself daily,
the glass reflects it’s trouble.
It spends a moment to think about it all and too soon it becomes yesterday.
How could you have done that, today, ~ were you ever here?
It is now only yesterday and it was gone!
Melting into memories as we speak,
Today has gone by way too fast again.
Unfortunately it has gone by way too fast to last.
Now, today becomes yesterday and it is gone.......
It is gone.
Memories of today are all we have.
© Copyright 2012 ARISE Child and Family Service, Inc.