Worth a thousand words
By AMY ADAMS
For The Reporter
Janus Developmental Services will host a Photography Show Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 16 at their headquarters in Noblesville in celebration of May being National Photography Month. In addition to light snacks, colorful photographs taken and framed by Janus participants will be on display and available for sale.
A recent Indiana Arts Commission Arts Project Support grant provided partial funding to help Janus incorporate photography into their client programming. Accessible to individuals with varying abilities, photography provides an opportunity to gain social as well as task-focused skills.
Janus staff recognized that, if given access to the right tools and materials and an opportunity to reflect the world through their own eyes, their participants could shine.
Janus purchased camera equipment and brought in a professional photographer to offer instruction. Noblesville resident Daniel Grose worked at Janus in 2010 with food services, and that birthed in him a passion for people with disabilities. He enjoyed introducing participants to the photography equipment, teaching them how to use it, and giving them tips.
“You could see their faces light up like Christmas,” Grose said. “It was pretty epic.”
Over the past several months, approximately 20 Janus clients chose to participate in the photography program. On 12 different occasions, Janus President and CEO Yolanda Kincaid drove a bus of participants to take pictures throughout all of Hamilton County.
These are just some of the participants in the photography program at Janus Developmental Services. (Photo provided by Janus Developmental Services, Inc.)
“There were some people who were hesitant at the beginning,” Kincaid said. “But as we went to different locations and they got more practice, they would be saying, ‘Stop the bus! I need to take a picture.’ And they would be right.”
The participants took photos of farms, fields, fences and more.
“Their confidence has made a 180-degree turn,” Kincaid said. “Daniel’s positive feedback telling them they were doing a great job really made a difference.”
One particular non-verbal participant uses photos on his phone to communicate with those around him. Imagine his excitement to be able to create those images himself.
“He was just elated to be able to take all of these photos and to come back and share them with his friends and later his family and to tell the story of his day,” Kincaid said.
Out of about 600 photographs taken, Janus selected 100 photos to print in full color. These prints have been mounted in frames built and painted by other Janus participants using wood donated from Westland Sales in Elkhart, Ind. All in all, the framed pieces will showcase the work of around 50 individuals.
The public is invited to the Photography Show Open House on Tuesday, May 16 at Janus headquarters. (Photo provided by Janus Developmental Services, Inc.)
Patrons will also be able to custom order photographs in different sizes or even in black and white.
“We’re like Burger King,” said Janus Development and Communications Director Jerry Jamison. “Special orders don’t upset us.”
A majority of the purchase price will go directly to the artists, with a smaller percentage going to support Janus for future art supplies. The Janus store will also be open selling other pieces made by Janus participants like their new line of birdhouses and bee baths.
All photographs, including purchased artwork, will remain on display through June 1 at the Janus facility at 1555 Westfield Road in Noblesville and can be viewed most days from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Jamison at (317) 773-8781 ext. 100 or jjamison@janus-inc.org to schedule an appointment.
Photos provided by Janus Developmental Services, Inc.