Amazing Grace - Heartwarming Art that Raises Awareness

According to her Mom, Bonnie, Grace Reber has been a prolific artist since birth. From a young age, her daughter could always be found buried in coloring books and crayons or energetically dabbing water colors on almost any surface. For Grace, art is a calming and centering form of therapy. It is the first thing she does after a long day or a lengthy social interaction which can be difficult for her. Art provides her with a comforting creative outlet. It's soothing, contemplative and for this special young lady, a lifelong source of both solace and fun.

Last year, covid-19 abruptly interrupted Grace’s world. The adult special needs classes and in person training that help her navigate the world as a young woman with Down’s syndrome came to a sudden halt. Her Mom suggested she start cutting, pasting and packaging her artwork into colorful bundles, mailing it to friends and relatives, asking them to enjoy it themselves or “pay it forward” to others. To their surprise, Grace’s work enchanted those who received it, and many urged her to consider sharing her work in a larger context. When early efforts through Instagram and Facebook proved successful, Bonnie knew it was time to seek professional help to create a “real” business to showcase her daughter’s work.

In early January, an LLC was formed; a separate studio and packaging area were designated in the family’s San Clemente home; and Ana Netto, a local free-lance writer, editor and web designer, joined forces with the Rebers to design a website, packaging and marketing concepts. GracePlace Art was born, and Grace was off to the races – growing as an artist by introducing new work; learning inventory and packaging skills; hand signing every card, stuffing envelopes, and, with her Mother’s support, reaching out to collaborate with other groups, raising awareness to promote inclusion and empowerment for special people like herself. Since then, several high school helpers have joined the team and more than 800 orders have been processed.

Grace, who has received weekly hand written notes and cards from her grandmother for years, has an inordinate love of giving and receiving gifts. To spread the joy, she helped design attractive packaging that makes every GracePlace Art purchase feel like the very special gift it is.

According to her Mom, a former Oklahoma school teacher, Grace’s skillset and self-esteem have grown along with her business. She enjoys every aspect of GracePlace Art, and literally beams when she recognizes her logo in the community. A recent high point was a visit to Jon’s Fish Market in Dana Point, where manager, Shala O’Keefe made her day when she asked Grace to be the first local artist featured in their newly reopened dining room. “I couldn't have asked for a better opening artist than Grace. I'm beyond grateful she said yes. Locals and customers can buy a piece of Grace's work right off our wall, or purchase one of her wonderful card sets. Grace is a beautiful, empowering local artist. This is her time to shine."

Grace continues to stretch and develop her skills, adding holiday collections and helping to plan new production for the coming year. So far this year, she has participated in interviews, photo shoots, zoom classes with other special needs kids, and over 24 collaborative events and projects, often sharing a portion of sales revenue with the Down’s Syndrome Association of Orange County or other worthy charities.

Grace and her Mom have succeeded in fulfilling the mission spelled out on their website, “sharing the art of Grace to create a better place.”

Grace’s cards, originals and prints can be viewed on her website here. People are invited to connect with her on Facebook or Linked In.