The Matheny Medical and Educational Center (www.matheny.org) sits high on a hill in Peapack, overlooking estates and fields that represent vast wealth and power.

But inside this complex of dorms, classrooms, auditoriums and medical treatment rooms, there is a different kind of bounty: a treasure trove of creative spirit, and a dedication to achieving self-expression even while facing enormous obstacles.

Many of the students at Matheny are severely disabled and multiply handicapped. Their limitations require specialized care and therapy. Some cannot speak or even move their hands and fingers without help.

Thanks to digital technology and dedicated instructors and therapists (some of whom are professional artists themselves), Matheny has cultivated a community of painters (www.artsaccessprogram.org). Performances or exhibitions allow them to share their passion.

This past summer art from more than a dozen Matheny painters was on display at Carlito’s Café Y Gelateria in New York City. The work has been showcased at galleries across the state and in some state offices.  

Currently, you can view artwork from Matheny at Bloomingdale’s (www.bloomingdales.com) in Bridgewater Commons. It’s part of the store’s 16 week Artrageous program, showcasing contemporary art and artists in stores across the country.

The amazing work features colors and patterns reminiscent of different contemporary schools of art. We’ve included a few samples on our newsletter.

You can also visit the gallery at the Robert Shonhorn Arts Center on the Matheny Campus, where the Arts Access Program resides and thrives.

Once inside you’ll discover what the folks at Matheny know: nothing can stop the artist from finding and expressing that creative spirit.