A new exhibit of artwork created by South Jersey students with special needs is now on display at Perkins Center for the Arts in Moorestown until Sept. 13. The exhibit is through a partnership with Perkins Center and Y.A.L.E. School, a private special education school for students with disabilities ages 3 through 21.

The show is open to the public and proceeds from artwork sales will be donated to Perkins Center’s Accessibility Fund. This builds upon a 3+ year partnership between the two organizations, which has given students opportunities to showcase their art and has raised crucial funds to benefit Perkins Center’s mission of arts education for all.

“Perkins is thrilled to host Y.A.L.E. students and their artwork in our Moorestown building ,” says Kahra Buss, Executive Director of Perkins Center for the Arts. “We are so excited for our community to see their work.”

The show, We the People, invites viewers to experience contemporary Americana through the eyes of our nation’s youth, ages 7 to 20. Featuring collaborative and individual artwork curated by the students at the Y.A.L.E. School Ellisburg and Erlton campuses, this pop-up experience will delight viewers with playful mixed media artworks paying homage to our nation and state.

“This opportunity presented our students with the freedom and responsibility to curate an art exhibit they thought others might like to see,” says Karen Donnelly, art teacher at Y.A.L.E. School and Art Show organizer. “To create their artwork, our high school students utilized their creative and trade skillsets, including painting and furniture repurposing, while our middle school students created a series of mosaics paying homage to National Parks. All ages helped by collaborating on several paintings.”

The exhibition runs until Sept. 13 at Perkins Center for the Arts in Moorestown. The public is welcome to attend a free closing reception on Sept. 10 from 5 pm – 8 pm at the Perkins Center in Moorestown.