Community Corner
The Community House’s Special Friends “SOAR”
The Community House hosted an evening of celebration and dedication of the Special Friends' Art Grows Here project.
The Community House hosted an evening of celebration and dedication of the Special Friends’ first art installment in this summer’s Art Grows Here self-guided, art tour in Hamilton and Wenham. The art piece entitled “SOAR” was dedicated to Special Friends founders, Terry Jennings and Joanne Patton. Over 34 years ago, these two incredible women recognized a need and collaborated to create the Special Friends program to serve adults with disabilities on the North Shore.
“I am very pleased to be recognized in this way and to see so many Special Friends continue to carry forward what Joanne and I started 34 years ago. The most satisfying experience for me is to have helped create a caring community where friends meet new friends and gather for fun and a variety of experiences – from art to karaoke to square dancing – and to have shared myself with others.” Terry Jennings, co-founder Special Friends
The Special Friends group participated in two evening workshops led by art teachers Kirsten Losee, Sheila Concannon and Gail Lake who offered their creativity, time and commitment to the project. Individual feathers were handpainted and applied to a board creating colorful wings. Tour attendees snapped photos, arms outstretched, simulating a soaring bird. “The piece took on a greater meaning when I learned who created it,” commented one tour participant.
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Special Friends is a monthly program open to adults with intellectual disabilities on the North Shore seeking an engaging, creative and social outlet. Events are theme-based and include music, dancing and art. The program free of charge. Events take place on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm at The Community House.
