Four years ago it was artist Donna Jackson’s aspiration to create a place where the disabled population and local community could form a new and unique society where they all share the creativity and joy of art.

And that place became the Gallery Group at 162A West Pine Street, which is hosting its third ParkART event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Robert Smith Memorial Park located just behind the Dr. Robert Smith House on 615 North Main Street. The event will feature live music and juried arts and crafts on display and for sale to benefit the artists and the Gallery Group, which is a non-profit organization. Artists will also be on site painting live.

“The location is just perfect. It’s a beautiful space for what we’re doing and it’s a great idea to come together,” said Jackson, who is the director of the art gallery and studio. “The first and second (ParkARTs) were very successful, but we need more Mount Airy people to come together to support it.”

The Gallery Group started from two boxes of art supplies in Jackson’s car trunk.

Determined to allow her disabled son to be creative after graduating school, she begin meeting with him and a few of his friends weekly to work on art projects.

As interest in her meeting sessions grew, she decided to develop the Gallery Group. For the next two years she and several mothers of special needs children met regularly to brainstorm about opening an art gallery/working studio for their children.

“I literally had two boxes of art supplies,” Jackson said. “That’s how it started and it just blossomed into this beautiful program.”

The Gallery Group now sees more than 40 students almost daily for classes for disabled adults.

More than 30 artists offer free instruction to the students who learn about various art forms and work on a variety of projects.

The Gallery Group operates through artists who volunteer their time to teach. Artists sign a contract to have their artwork displayed in the gallery, along as they offer free instruction in turn for the student artists. Ninety percent of the sales go to the artists, and the other 10 percent goes back to the art gallery.

“We are not asking for money as much as we ask that (the artists) be there as instructors,” said Jackson, adding the gallery has around 30 or more instructors. “They’re not use to working with handicap people, it’s not like we have all Van Gogh or Rembrandts in the group. They learn the techniques and paint their spirit on canvas and once the community sees it they will buy it. It takes time to work with them and once they do—it’s inspiring. It’s interesting to see the reaction of people who walk in and see the gallery for the first time.”

The Gallery Group partnered with the Gilmer-Smith Foundation, which runs the Dr. Robert Smith House, for ParkART III.

“They will have lots of artwork for sale and several artists on hand who will be painting. People will be able to watch them at their trade,” said Ann Vaughn, the executive director of the Gilmer-Smith Foundation.

Money raised from ParkART III will allow the Gallery Group, which primarily operates on donations, to purchase art materials and help with its operation costs.

“With the kindness of the community, it’s incredible how money has come through,” Jackson said. “We’ve managed to keep our doors open and to pay utilities. Ninety percent of the supplies have been donated, everything down from the little old lady whose cleaned out her closet and finds a container of paint, that’s what we have. I like to say when we receive donations ‘we’re always a project waiting to happen.’ It’s just amazing.”

For more information about ParkART III or the Gallery Group call 786-0057.

Contact Erin C. Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.