The SHAPE Gallery features many different artists and exhibits and stunning pieces of art. On Saturday, Feb. 7, some exceptional artists were finally having their talents recognized at a show of their own.

The show, "Exceptional Expressions," features artists who are students at the Franklin County Learning Center, an IU-12 school, which is focused on helping special needs children. The children range in ages from 5 to 20, with works spanning from colorful drawings of the children’s hands to depictions of cherry blossom trees.

Mark Wojciechowski, the vice president and curator of SHAPE, said he was excited to bring in outsiders’ work. Wojciechowski also said that he was proud of the artwork and that he could use this as a way to “introduce different groups,” within the community to the Franklin County Learning Center, which many people might not have heard of before.

SHAPE volunteer Mary Peck expressed the same sentiment as Wojciechowski. Peck said that she thought it was a good turn out but also that the event had seemed to get more publicity than events in the past.

With people bustling in and out of the different sections of the gallery, many could see the children’s excited smiles and parents’ proud gazes as they looked at the different pieces. Many of the students recognized their friends’ artwork and were equally excited to see them as well.

Sarah Fogelsanger, one of the parents and the manager of the Franklin Special Olympics, said she was proud to see the works of her daughter as well as the many other works in SHAPE Gallery.

Her daughter, Melissa A., explained her piece’s color scheme. She also mentioned that she created different artwork for her church, which usually consisted of crosses and Bible verses. Melissa mentioned that she used song lyrics on some of those pieces as well, and that her favorite musical artist was Taylor Swift.

Other parents, such as Deb Slye, said it was awesome to see the artwork framed. Slye said that while she sees the artwork her child makes every week, since the school sends it home with the child, it was a completely different experience seeing it framed.

Holly Shearer, an art teacher at the Learning Center and one of the key players in getting the exhibit to SHAPE, explained that part of the reason she teaches is to share her love of art. Since many of the children have difficulty expressing themselves, Shearer wanted to show the children that they can express themselves through art.

Shearer said that she loved seeing how happy everyone seemed. She added that she loved the fact that this was a way to show these children’s abilities instead of their disabilities. Since much of their life they are seen for what they cannot do, it was refreshing to see them recognized for what they could do, Shearer said.

The night was deemed a success by many, as well as a night of laughter and fun. To see the exhibit in full, it is open from now through Feb. 27 at 20 W. King St. SHAPE Gallery’s hours are Wednesday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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