This special art class focuses on the artist’s capabilities
ROCKLEDGE, Florida -- Rocking sunglasses, jeans and a hipster black T, Kyle Heinly nails the "rock star" look.
During a recent painting session at Bridges, an organization that cares for individuals with disabilities, the 29-year-old artist held a small canvas at an angle — no easel here — and made simple brush strokes, his arm and wrist tattoos on display. His friends were nearby, making their own art.
Whether he meant to or not, Heinly simply oozed confidence.
And in this classroom-slash-art-studio at Bridges, which cares for about 350 individuals, Heinly is a rock star.
"Art is sort of an avenue that hasn't been explored as a way (for) handicapped individuals ... to express themselves," said Heinly, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. He typically wears sunglasses to prevent seizures from his epilepsy.
A fan of tattoo culture and spoken word poetry, Heinly credits the arts with helping him find his voice.
Bridges' start with art
For two years, a handful of "clients" at Bridges have met once a week for art class with Kyle and Ruthanne Heinly. Local artists like Jake Estrada of Space Coast Comixx and Kyle Heinly's mentor, Jeff Filipski, volunteer there, not really to lend their expertise but to bond with the group.
About six years ago, Filipski met Heinly at an open poetry reading in Daytona Beach.
"He was fearless," the artist recalled. He — and the 60 or 70 people in the audience — witnessed Heinly suffering a seizure of some sort during his turn at the mic. And yet, "he was still able to deliver." Shortly after, Filipski told Heinly that he "had the balls of a lion," and they've been friends ever since.
When it comes to the Bridges art crew, Filipski's seen strides in their artwork and apprehension.
"Anytime I can give somebody a paintbrush and a blank surface, I'm a maniac in trying to get them to express themselves," Filipski said. "So many people are in denial of having any ability, artistic ability whatsoever. They're less apprehensive now.
"I just find that the most rewarding thing," he said.
They've come so far
Ruthanne Heinly knows just the feeling.
"A lot of them have developed so much. A lot of them never even picked up a paintbrush before," she added. "This really motivates them to get going."
One woman used her thumb to paint.
"A lot of times, people with disabilities ... don't like to get anything on their hands or fingers. It drives them nuts," Ruthanne explained. "One of our clients is like that, very neat and clean and, you know, don't spill anything. She came in to do her canvas for the art show."
Ruthanne handed her a brush, but the client refused. "She says, no, she used her thumbs and stuck her thumbs in the paint and just went all over the canvas with her thumbs. We didn't want to make too big a deal with it, because we didn't want her to stop, but it was a big deal."
Stories like that motivate her son, an accomplished speaker and author, to dream up projects like Special Art Special Hands. The clients of Bridges should have pride in what they do.
"In the next few years, I think we'll be accepting people from all over who are disabled, handicapped, from anywhere, to be a part of this show, if it grows," Kyle Heinly said. "It's needed. It shows that everyone has the freedom to express themselves."
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