CORE 2021
CORE: Defining Ourselves is a longstanding annual tradition of Able ARTS Work. Beginning in 2005, with the first ever CORE exhibition at the George V. Deneff Gallery in Long Beach, Able ARTS Work has built an art community that celebrates creatives not only across the nation but the globe. This annual juried exhibition has grown and evolved through the years to include artists of all abilities, exhibitions at venues across the Los Angeles area, and ADA components to create a fully accessible and inclusive showcase of the arts. As we look back on the past 16 years of CORE, it’s time to transform our traditional format with an exciting reinterpretation of this iconic exhibition.
Participating community artists from the LA art scene were invited to create a collaborative body of work with our resident artists over the course of several months in 2019-2020. Disability influencer Lolo Spencer and AAW resident artist Brian Corder were invited to co-curate solo artwork by artists, further integrating the element of community collaboration into the curation process and the exhibition. This multi-dimensional community exhibition originally had been planned to open at Bergamot Station in May 2020. The world came to a screeching halt in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe forcing a total shut down. The future of CORE became uncertain; all plans were put on an indefinite hold.
In early 2021, the exhibitions team began to piece the show back together little by little with hopes of sharing the original message of community and collaboration with a world in desperate need. Although everything seemingly stopped the past year, time had continued on - through the process of putting the show together changes arose. Changes in venue, in artist participation, in curation, and of artwork included. Although the journey involved some unexpected changes, the essence of this exhibition has not. CORE 2021 is the culmination of this journey. This exhibition explores the praxis of collaboration and community, highlighting the unique creative relationships built every day through the artistic process. As past CORE shows have established a passionate art scene inclusive of all abilities, we build upon that strong foundation to bring these revolutionary ideas to a broader audience. CORE 2021 aims to unify the larger LA art scene with a narrative on the power of community and the need for continued collaboration among our greater society. The relationships formed between all participating artists is as much a part of the exhibition as the physical artworks created from these collaborative explorations. This evolved exhibition redefines what it means to work together in the contemporary art world in the midst of a global pandemic and beyond. Able ARTS Work acknowledges and celebrates the process of artmaking and growing creatively as an arts community. We invite our audience to think about the connection between the practice of collaboration and how this translates into making our communities more inclusive, accessible, and unified.
LOVE
COMMUNITY
STRENGTH
BEAUTIFUL
ENLGHTENING
ENCHANTING
FAMILIA
I LIKE IT A LOT
HOPE
CREATIVITY
TOGETHER
The Beginning
Jesus Quiroz (left) &
Leonardo Moleiro (right)
The collaboration of Jesus Quiroz, a resident artist of the CECA studio in Hawthorne and Leonardo Moleiro, a Pasadena based artist, ignited the flame of inspiration for the annual CORE exhibition in 2020. The two were both participants of the Weekend Warrior Residency, hosted by Able ARTS Work (AAW) at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles in winter of 2019. During the residency, an AAW resident artist and community artist were selected to work side by side to provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas, skills, and a chance to learn from one another. Both artists were very dedicated to their work from the start of the residency. Every Saturday, both artists journeyed to San Pedro to work for several hours on solo and collaborative art works. Jesus chose to begin a garden themed series of drawings. He often completed his small nature studies in the gardens located at Crafted. Leo painted abstract geometric figures on canvas hanging on the studio walls. Each artist often would stop to check in on the other and provide critique, feedback, or a word of positive encouragement on works in progress. The culmination of their residency is a collaborative painting combining the geometric abstract shapes utilized by Leo into the organic garden landscape created by Jesus.
This collaborative relationship did not end once the residency concluded. Both artists were asked to participate in CORE 2020 due to their successful artistic relationship and exemplary community collaboration. CORE 2020 was intended to highlight the importance of collaboration with the community. The artists took on a pen-pal style collaborative process due to distance. Jesus began paintings that Leo would pick up then complete. In the process of the pen-pal collaboration a mix up occurred with the artwork intended for Leo and artwork intended as solo pieces for Jesus. Then the COVID- 19 pandemic occurred turning everyone’s world upside down. The exhibition, paintings, and collaboration were put on an indefinite hold. As CORE 2021 began to take form again, the exhibition team began to piece the various parts of the exhibition back together after more than a year. In this process a happy accident was revealed. Leo had unknowingly collaborated on Jesus’s personal artwork instead of the paintings originally intended for collaboration. Leo combined their styles in a way that honored Jesus’ artwork without overtaking it. He found the perfect balance to complement Jesus in this most unusual collaboration. This “happy accident” exemplifies what the collaborative process is truly all about.
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CORE 2021 Episode 1
CORE 2021 Episode 2
Virtual Gallery Below
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Need a closer look? See below.
Jesus Quiroz & Leonardo Moleiro
Solo and collaborative work.
Me Gusta Food
An collaborative installation by Jazmin Urrea & EPI Studio Resident Artists
Carlos Arredondo & Jazmin Urrea
Solo and collaborative work.
Adam Caar
Developer
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George V. Deneff Gallery
The George V. Deneff Gallery at Able ARTS Work exists to showcase the creative work of resident artists through quarterly exhibits and sales of artwork to private and corporate collections. This gallery is dedicated to fostering and promoting the work of artists with disabilities where artists earn a 50% commission on the sale of their work. These exhibits are in partnership with the day programs and the exhibits department as well as guest curators.
Virtual exhibits are available for viewing.
ARTifact Forum
ARTifact Forum & Gallery is a creative arts exhibition and learning space. This space serves as a public gallery space to showcase art, performance and installation work, where the exchange of ideas and experiences are encouraged. ARTifact also hosts creative arts workshops and offers vocational training opportunities in the arts for individuals with and without disabilities. Workshops are open to all members of the local community for a small materials fee.
ARTifact is home to an annual Community Showcase, a highly celebrated community event that brings together and celebrates artists with and without disabilities from Southern California. In 2020, this showcase was presented though as a virtual event. Check it out here.
Gallery at the EXPO Arts Center
Able ARTS Work invites you to the Able ARTS Work Gallery located at the EXPO Arts Center in Bixby Knolls, CA. Our gallery features original artwork and handmade items designed by current and past resident artists and musicians of Able ARTS Work.
Hours:
Tuesday - Friday: 9am-4pm Walk-ins welcome.
Email exhibits@ableartswork.org to coordinate a tour
Closed: Saturday & Sunday
Address:
4321 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807
562-846-9654
This gallery is in the spirit of social inclusion, entrepreneurship and enterprise.
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Social inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Social entrepreneurship describes pioneering individuals who generate innovations that benefit humanity and create a business model of positive impact
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Social enterprise, defined as any non-profit, for-profit or hybrid corporate form that utilizes market-based strategies to advance a social mission and values
Through this collaborative effort, together we are able to join forces and resources to provide a creative space for our artists with disabilities to show their artistic creations and have a place in the community to be gainfully employed. We are grateful for our social enterprise community partnerships as they have broadened the opportunities for quality of life not only for our artists but also an opportunity for awareness and advocacy that supports learning and personal growth strengthening and benefitting everyone in the community.
Community Exhibitions
Art is a universal language that helps us to connect to one another. Through community exhibitions, the greater community has opportunities to meet and learn from our service users and resident artist. Able ARTS Work is committed and dedicated to providing the tools and opportunities to our resident artists to pursue a career in art. Our community exhibitions department works to push fine work into the community by researching and submitting resident artists' artwork to exhibits.
This exhibitions department also works to host community exhibits with partnering galleries and public spaces in order to showcase artists with and without disabilities. These exhibits often act both as an act of community integration and as an incredible viewing experience. Email us to learn about our yearly community exhibitions and how you can get involved.
