Our Journey
1st Exhibit at the New Century Artists Gallery, 2009
Artshare’s first exhibit in 2009 featured 45 works of over 30 artists. The arts program began a year prior, as personal collaboration between Linda Tempel, Heartshare’s former Executive Director for Development Disability Services, and Barbara Cuthel, an artist and mother to Brian, a day program attendee.
The Early Years with New Century Artists Gallery
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Creativity Amidst Chaos: Covid Times
In 2019, at 11 years old, the program was going strong. Linda and Barbara found a champion and co-curator in Brooklyn Day Hab Program Coordinator Edgardo Velez. Their combined efforts led to hiring the first teaching artists Georgette Madiotis and Christine Stoddard, and a full-time Arts Programming Coordinator, Will Green. Artshare was seeing a rise in community exhibits, artist organization partners, and an enduring buy-in from over 200 artists.
Then, the pandemic happened.
Amidst the chaos and uncertainty that was the global Covid Crisis of 2020-2021, Artshare pivoted to virtual sessions and online art tutorials. Throughout the two - year storm of sickness and restrictions, the 9-part series of Artshare Online provided a calm center for individuals and dedicated service providers living in Heartshare residences to seek refuge.
An Enduring Friendship with Clover’s Gallery
Shown here are catalogs from the 11th and 12th annual exhibitions held at the Clover’s Art Gallery in 2019 and 2022, respectively. The annual exhibits that started in 2017 continue to the present - interrupted only by the two years the world paused for the pandemic. Artists
15th Annual Show at Clover’s Gallery, May 2024
We Are Here: A Growing Collective
“We Are Here: A Collective Whole”, a multi-media installation by over 100 ArtShare artists from Brooklyn and Queens Day Programs, 2025. The work featured portraits of day program members in conversation with works by direct service specialists and other staff.
16th Annual Show at Clover’s Gallery, May 2024
Artshare’s 16th year saw the birth of many new stars in its growing constellation. In addition to its roster of over a dozen external art partners and contracted art educators, Will Green, now Director of Arts Programming, brought in full-time Arts Programming Assistant Amihan Ruiz. Another first, Artshare was able to hire part-time artist teachers. Completing the team were Mitchel Coffman and Flavia Bertorello for Visual Arts, and Ally Ibach and Marcus Beasley for Performing Arts.
A Neighbor and Collaborator in NYU
More than just buildings on the same block, the NYU School of Engineering and Ability Lab have become close thought partners with Artshare. Students and alumni keen on pursuing a career in accessibility and serving disabled populations have collaborated with Artshare individuals on a myriad of exciting projects. They range from prototyping paintbrush holders for artists with limited mobility, eye and head motion tracking technology for digital illustrations, customizing program satisfaction surveys for Heartshare populations, and this pilot art-making podcast episode below featuring Tracey Brown of Bay Ridge Day Hab.