By Christina Martin-Wright
VSA Wisconsin

VSA Wisconsin announces the opening of a new exhibition Oct. 1–Nov. 29 in its gallery at 1709 Aberg Avenue. Convergence: A Mentor Mentee Exhibition, an exhibit of abstract paintings by Julius Trees Parrish and Pita Daniels, features new works that express the challenges a person with disabilities faces, and how different energies come together in day-to-day life as they navigate what comes their way.

Julius Tree Parrish and his parents approached artist Pita Daniels five years ago when Julius was a senior at Youth Initiative High School, in Viroqua. Julius, who lives with autism, wanted a mentor to guide him in painting sunsets as a way to honor the senior class. Together, they create art in their Viroqua, Wisconsin studio, a passion that ignited in both of them when they were young children. For Pita, painting has been an avenue to express the deeply human feelings of joy, depression, grief, gratitude or forgiveness. He believes that life in its essence is energy, and he tries to express this belief with bold lines, contrasting color or shape and vivid movement.

Julius, age 23, loves laying down color and texture. Julius paints with acrylics on canvas and is most comfortable with abstract ideas. Under Pita’s guidance, Julius will often follow a theme or specific shape or texture for multiple paintings. Julius will often follow a color palate over several canvases as well, or start a painting by looking at color first, rather than an idea, a model or a picture. His lack of formal art education, except for his work with his mentor Pita Daniels, combined with his autism, allows Julius to create from a very pure place. He paints with abandon and intensity at the same time.

Pita says of their joint exhibition, “we are grateful for this opportunity. Knowing everyone at VSA Wisconsin is there for us, and represents us as human beings means a lot. And knowing that there are others with disabilities that have a place at VSA, like us, helps us feel like we are a part of a healthy active community, and helps us feel pride in our work.”

Convergence: A Mentor Mentee Exhibition is on view at VSA Wisconsin from Oct. 1 through Nov. 29, 2018. Admission is free, including on Fall Gallery Night Friday, Oct. 5. The Evjue Foundation and the Wisconsin Arts Board provide funding for the VSA Wisconsin Gallery.