Watch the Creativity Unlimited Documentary below:

Watch the Creativity Unlimited Documentary - Behind the Scenes below:

Woodland Hills, CA, May 18, 2020 – On Friday, May 15, four artists and a number of eager viewers settled in front of their computer screens – an activity that is so familiar nowadays – to view something wholly new and original: “Creativity Unlimited”, a short film created by four artists from two progressive art studios in Southern California, ECF Art Centers (ECF) and UCP of Los Angeles (UCPLA). 

Through in-studio interviews, recorded between May 2019 and October 2019, “Creativity Unlimited” follows Marilyn Schmidt (ECF), James Basilio (ECF), Chris Brown (UCPLA), and Joanna Krall Wilkins (UCPLA) as they discuss what inspires them, their art making process, and their unique creative drive while giving just a glimpse of their vast portfolios of work. The artists, who have a variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities, connect with each other through a shared perspective on community and life in their studios.

“In this collaboration between myself, Chris, James, and Marilyn, we educate the viewers to show our excitement and the enthusiastic way in which we approach our artwork,” says Jonna Krall-Wilkins, an artist from UCPLA who is featured in the film.

UCPLA-based artist Chris Brown adds, “Doing the film was enlightening and inspiring. To have filmmakers document my art practice was interesting because now there’s a permanent record of what it is I do. I feel that it gives my art practice a permanence and legitimacy most people might not ever see. My art is the evidence of my life. Doing art is essential to my emotional survival, so having it documented was incredibly special. It was also extremely rewarding to collaborate with the filmmakers and the other artists shown in the film. I got to help with the filmmaking process, helping with sound recording, and even interviewing the other artists. Meeting this new community was exciting because it wasn’t just about ‘me.’ I was part of a greater whole.”

“Especially in these uncertain times, connection and creativity are more vital than ever,” said Lori Anderson, President and CEO of UCPLA.  “These artists have not merely created something beautiful – they have created an opportunity for us to come together and discuss what art, community, and inclusion will look like in this new world we’re building.”

“This collaboration represents the fundamental truth that inclusion strengthens us all,” said Scott Bowling, ECF President and CEO.  “I’m inspired by the work of our artists, and how this project shows us what’s possible when we work together to give rise to one another’s potential.”

The film, which was created with guidance and support from Otis College of Art and Design Alumna (BFA '12) and former ECF Supervisor Eugenia Barbuc, along with a series of shorts that were also shown during the May 15 screening.

UCPLA’s Washington Reid Gallery and adjoining Washington Place Adult Day Program supports a vigorous community of working artists with a variety of developmental challenges, such as Autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, whose perspective is vital within the contemporary art world. For more information visit https://www.ucpla.org/.

Since 1968, the ECF Art Centers have provided adults with developmental disabilities a place to explore their creativity and freedom of expression. ECF Art Centers is a program of the Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF), improving the lives of children and adults with special needs since 1946. For more information visit https://www.artecf.org/

Over the past several years, ECF and UCPLA have aligned with Otis College of Art and Design on course collaborations and student internship placements.  For more information about Otis College of Art and Design visit http://www.otis.edu/ 

This project was envisioned by Keith Lawrence from the Mary Pickford Foundation and The Arts Consortium LA. The Arts Consortium LA is the creation of the Mary Pickford Foundation and helps forge social change and growth in Los Angeles by utilizing the artistic process. It provides existing community-based art organizations an opportunity to expand the scope of their work while enhancing creative growth and self-determination for the participating individuals. Funding for this project was generously provided by the Mary Pickford Foundation.  For more information visit https://marypickford.org