Young woman excels at decorating birdhouses...sells dozens

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Marisol is an artistically talented 26-year-old woman with Down Syndrome and a former student of the Abilities United After School Socialization program. Today, Marisol is an Adult Education student in San Jose where she does volunteer work for organizations such as Meals on Wheels.

Marisol enjoys a lot of things in life but she especially enjoys painting an decorating birdhouses. She and her mother work together to create the designs and select recycled materials as decorating media. Marisol picks her colors, and painstakingly pastes and glues the materials to the birdhouses to create the intricate and complex designs. Each birdhouse is a unique work of art. No two are alike in shape, design or style. When each one is complete, Marisol sits back with a look of satisfaction and pride. She is particularly proud when she sells a birdhouse, as she was just this week when she received $375 for four of her birdhouses. She has used her earnings to pay for a computer, clothes, and recreational activities. She has also donated to Abilities United and saves some of her earnings.

Marisol is also a regular participant and medal winner in Special Olympics track and field, softball, baseball, bowling, floor hockey and basketball. She also enjoys going to dances. She loves Michael Jackson and dances every morning while she waits for her bus and when coloring and painting. She dreams that one day she will be called to be a part of a concert for Michael Jackson. Marisol collects Michael Jackson memorabilia.

Marisol has sold dozens of her creatively decorated wood birdhouses to individuals throughout the Bay Area who appreciate and value her talent. Birdhouses sell for between $50 and $300 dollars depending on the complexity of design. One of her fans, a resident of Woodside and an owner of at least a half dozen of Marisol's creations, so admires her work that she sponsored an auction of the birdhouse and matched the price of each birdhouse sold with a donation to Abilities United!

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Artist’s talent is valued; five art pieces purchased by local art appreciators

When Michael first dropped in to Abilities United to show us his 30+ original painting, all of us were, to say the least, extremely impressed... actually blown away. His use of color is incredible. Vibrant colors in combinations that make his artwork pop with emotion and energy. His paintings of nature and animals are whimsical, creative and expressive yet powerful and realistic. He is inspired by and promotes the unity of life, the unity of humans and animals, the unity of the world and universe. He is also a lover of anime so many of his pieces are super human characters. He says he has painted 114 original works of art! And now we are privileged to showcase Michael’s talents throughout the Peninsula and South Bay.

Art appreciators and art lovers are also impressed by Michael’s talents. So much so in the last couple months Michael has sold 5 pieces of art. His "Giraffe in Africa" sold for $140 to Lisa Mancini, the Director of Aging and Adult Services for San Mateo County. “The Transformers” sold for $150 to the Abilities United auditor! His “Flight of the Dragons”, featured in the Abilities United 2012 calendar/annual report, sold for $275 to a woman who is giving it to her grandchild. “Frankenstein meets the Wolfman” sold for $200. And “Paradise Ranch” sold for $500 to a woman on the East Coast who is giving it as a Christmas gift! We were delighted to celebrate Michael’s success with a bell-ringing moment at Abilities United, which included giving him over $1,000 in checks for these various works of art!

Michael’s art has been exhibited at the San Mateo County Council on Disabilities art show and auction in October & November as well as the Abilities United Expo art showcase in November. Two of his pieces were featured at the Abilities United Authors Luncheon and each piece sold. In January and February, numerous pieces will be on display at Zoe’s Café in Menlo Park. We hope to find an anime oriented location to showcase his many anime pieces.

At the San Mateo County Council on Disabilities exhibit, Michael spoke to potential buyer/bidders about his artwork. He took the opportunity to speak to the crowd and explained a bit about himself and his artwork. He expressed appreciation for the services he receives at the ARC (in Daly City) and Abilities United. He drove it all home with a final sentence: "I'm the happiest man alive."