Functional pottery and sculptural works created by students in the Matheny Medical and Educational center Adult Services program are currently on display in the Bridgewater Public Library thru June 29. An opening reception on June 16 drew an enthusiastic crowd of families, Matheny staff members and friends from the community. Matheny is a special hospital and educational facility in Peapack for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities.
Matheny's adult education programs are designed to instill a sense of self-respect and self-expression for adult residents and adult day health services patients, and the ceramics program teaches them the fundamentals of working in clay, incorporating the elements of design and principles of art. The pottery and sculptural works are created through hand building techniques of pinching coiling and slab building. Students also produce works thrown on the wheel with the use of adaptive equipment. Working processes also include communication books and hand-over-hand methods.
