Rendez-vous with special artists

It is an unfortunate reality that those with disabilities are sometimes looked upon as limited, their identities based on what they can't do as opposed to what they can.

Under the tutelage of volunteer art coach Pierrette Beaudoin, Rosalyn Williams-Ness has learned how to develop her budding artistic abilities through oil painting, in spite of her physical challenges.

Williams-Ness has cerebral palsy, a brain disorder that affects body movement and posture as well as fine motor skills and depth perception. She walks with crutches and talks slowly but has a positive, lively energy that is infectious. "I had no knowledge-I knew nothing about paint, nothing about the medium, nothing about the colors, nothing," she said. "It's the teacher who is very encouraging."

Williams-Ness is one of many art students who meet weekly at West Island Citizen Advocacy, a non-profit organization which pairs volunteer advocates with those in the community needing help.

As part of Rendez-Vous Arts (RVA), Citizen Advocacy provides art courses taught by volunteer art coaches, which culminates in an annual art exhibition and sale. This year it takes place on Sunday.

The RVA program was the brainchild of Mimi St.Aubin 26 years ago when she first began working for Citizen Advocacy. "When I went to visit the protégés, I noticed that most of them did not have any interests or hobbies and I told myself that these people must have talent and that we only need to help to develop it," she said.

She envisioned a program that included all of the arts, including theatre and music. The program finally came to fruition six years ago as a visual arts course, with classes in painting and drawing.

Since then, the number of teachers and courses have grown, but the raison d'être remains the same. "Our mandate is to improve the quality of life (of students) and this (RVA) is a tool to do that," said St.Aubin.

Although the program is a priceless experience for these students, it is not by any means, without a cost. Thanks to financial support from the Fondation Rêve d'Esther and the Lions Club of Lachine, the RVA students are provided with art supplies and the cost of framing their artwork is covered. "They (sponsors) are very happy to be involved, they come to the exhibit and see the results," said St.Aubin. She says the RVA exhibition at the end of the year gives them a tangible view of how their donations have helped.

But the annual exhibit is also a tribute to the dedicated teaching, which Williams-Ness insists was integral in her learning process. Her volunteer art coach, Beaudoin, began teaching one of the classes this past year and has seen the improvement in her students, both on an artistic and a personal level. Like Williams-Ness, many students live with physical and other challenges and often, social isolation. "For me it's sharing what I know…and I see the results-not just the results in the painting, but in their attitude-they become more confident," she said. A painter for most of her life, Beaudoin wanted to share her love of art through teaching.

She says that she many of her students are beginners, and are starting from scratch. The inexperience some of them have, coupled with a disability can make painting a challenging task. "They're (students) not sure how to handle the brush, there not sure how to do anything, so slowly, maybe some of them may be able to do it," she said.

Beaudoin insists that it is the students that inspire her to teach. "The enthusiasm…the people that come to that class seem to appreciate very much to be able to learn and express themselves that way."

Williams-Ness says she will be back next year, despite the challenges that she faced. "It didn't come naturally-I had to think about it and work on it, (but) I don't mind doing it in this situation, with the encouragement of everyone else," she concluded with a smile.

Rendez-Vous Arts takes place Sunday at the Surrey Aquatic and Community Centre in Dorval from 12 to 4 p.m. For more information, please call West Island Citizen Advocacy at 514-694-5850, 514-631-9151 or visit our website at www.westislandcitizenadvocacy.com.