Written by: Shelley Li, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter
Graphics by: Christy Ma, FCSN Voices Graphic Artist

How do you express yourself? Through words, body language? Or maybe more creatively — through music, dance, fashion, cooking … the list goes on. Yet no matter the form, expression digs deep, unearthing a complex inner world that we all uniquely possess. This inner world houses our perspectives, thoughts, and dreams. Sitting center at FCSN’s 2024 Art Exhibition, Expression manifests itself in an explosion of diversity and artistic talent. Through each piece of artwork, we are invited for a glimpse into the rich inner world of an artist with special needs. 

Three years ago, FCSN hosted its first ever art exhibition. Artists from the special needs community had wanted to share their creative visions, but lacked a platform to do so. FCSN Executive Business Director Sylvia Yeh recalls, “We have had performing arts — the Special Needs Talent Showcase — for ten years, but artists came to us and said ‘We are really good at painting and drawing but we cannot go to the talent showcase because we are not performing arts. What can you do for us?’ And that’s how the art exhibition started.” 

This year, the art exhibition displayed close to 300 pieces of art, contributed by 55 individual artists (including 5 Featured Artists) and 11 groups from various FCSN programs. With artwork in all types of mediums, including paintings, ceramics, and digital art, the exhibition mirrored the distinctive individualities of its contributors. 

On August 23, the Art Exhibition hosted its Grand Opening, celebrating the event together with the opening of FCSN’s third center and new headquarters, the Osgood Center. As guests arrived, FCSN clients handed out rainbow friendship bracelets decorated with words of “LOVE” and “FCSN” before offering a guided tour of the exhibition and new center. On the tour, guests first walked through a hallway lined with cascading paintings of international cities, stardusted lakes, animals, and mandalas. Entering the next room, they were greeted by a collection of mixed media — among them, ceramics, clay, a wonderland of yarn flowers and swirls on cardboard boxes, corks stacked into giraffes, and a beautiful array of acrylic prints made by members of the East Bay Supported Living Services (SLS) Program. Outside the room, the Dream Achievers band livened the atmosphere with a combination of soft instrumentals and jazzy vocals, while staff prepared an assortment of savory and sweet delicacies from Friends Coffee & Tea. The tour ended in the large multipurpose room, lined with the artwork of this year’s five Featured Artists: Jay Shah, Arun Bharadwaj, Angie Wang, Kendra Laird, and Lynn Pisco.

The Grand Opening kicked off with a performance of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by East Bay Percussion, followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Osgood Center. In attendance were numerous distinguished guests, who came to witness the momentous occasion. As each took the stage to recognize FCSN’s incredible milestone, their gratitude towards the organization for supporting individuals with special needs in showcasing their talents and reaching for their dreams, resonated deeply with the whole audience. In the words of Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, “[Thank you FCSN] for always dreaming, always building, and always moving forward.” 

With guest remarks coming to an end, the spotlight turned to the five Featured Artists, who each gave a brief speech about their artistic journey. For all five artists, art had become a mode to express themselves and communicate — a reflection of their growth, passions, and personal experiences. In Jay Shah’s speech, he remarked, “I use art to communicate.” Similarly, Arun Bharadwaj wrote, “Art is more than just an activity … each brushstroke allows me to convey a part of myself that words sometimes can’t capture.” For Angie Wang, her art — often inspired by themes of the natural world and favorite TV shows — is also a refuge and compass that helped her navigate the challenges of the pandemic. “Painting and drawing offered me a calming method to cope with the upheaval around me, helping me to maintain a sense of normalcy and peace,” she wrote. 

Reflecting on their journeys, the Featured Artists also recognized the supportive network of family, friends, and teachers that empower them to reach their fullest potential. Kendra Laird’s 22 pieces of digital art capture snapshots of the little moments in life: a grumpy couple, a doubtful look. She said, “My mother’s love of books and my father’s sense of humor have helped me capture the spirit of my subjects.” Adjacent to Kendra’s pieces, Lynn Pisco transports viewers into the vibrant world of Pokémon, inviting all to tap into their inner child. “My goal is to create art that invites interaction. I want you to not just look at my pieces, but also think about the stories and characters they represent,” she said. 

Walking through the exhibit, visitors found a creative expression within each artwork, reflecting a part of the artist’s inner world. Indeed, the art exhibition stands as a testament to the ability of individuals with special needs to not only produce highly talented work but also to transmit to viewers their perspectives and internal feelings and thoughts. Displaying hundreds of artworks, the art exhibition aims to break down barriers surrounding the abilities of the special needs community, while also encouraging more individuals with special needs to pursue artistic callings. “The art exhibit is all about spotlighting the artists themselves,” said Event Chair Claire Brady. “It motivates them to create art. [In fact], there’s one artist who is already preparing their portfolio to be a featured artist next year.” 

The exhibition also offered an opportunity for artists to sell their pieces — all proceeds going to the artists themselves or generously donated to FCSN. At the end of the exhibit, 21 artworks were sold, including almost all ceramics from Austin Chen’s collection, along with many of Kendra’s greeting cards.

Looking into the future, Claire remarks, “I just hope [the exhibition] continues.” Echoing her sentiment, FCSN’s 2024 Art Exhibition Grand Opening ended with the heartening melodies of FCSN’s song, “Friends with Dreams.” As the lyrics write, “They are children of the stars / They need a place where they can shine with love and hope.” Uniting the community over art, the art exhibition provides the place where the talent and dreams of all artists with special needs shine in recognition, bright and bold.