I have always loved art.  My mother was my first
inspiration because she painted together with me when I
was young.  My mother never, ever thought my disability should hold me back from the experience of beauty in this world.

In 1995, after I completed a year of service in City Year, I used my stipend to take classes at Mass. College of Art.  These classes helped me progress to a certain point.  Then I saw paintings by Professor Kaji Aso that moved my heart.  I sought him out and took a class with him at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts . With his instruction and confidence in my ability, I made great progress. As part of his studio, I continue to study with him and his long-term student Kate Finnegan. I love being part of a professional art studio. My paintings and poetry are always part of the studio exhibits.

Now, in addition to watercolor and oil paintings, I am studying fabric painting with another professional artist.  For the last two years, I have been hand painting silk and velvet scarves.

I exhibit my work regularly at the Gallery Nature and Temptation, with VSA Massachusetts, and at local fairs and festivals.  I also display and sell my work at several disability-related conferences, such as the national TASH (The Association for Persons with Severe Disabilities) Conference, the Annual Conference of the Federation for Children with Special Needs, Abilities Expo, and others. Two of my works were selected for the National “Spirit of the ADA : Celebrating Disability Culture” exhibit at the Federal Plaza, New York. 

 

I have contributed my paintings to disability advocacy organizations for fund raising, and have been honored to have several advocacy organizations use my designs and paintings to promote their work, as well as commission new works from me.

 

 I have received a number of awards, including:

•  2002  ARC Massachusetts Distinguished Citizen Award

•  “Going the Distance and Making a Difference” Award, ARC of Northern Bristol County

•  “Community Palette 2000 Certificate for Artistic Achievement, Mass. Department of Mental Retardation

Please email me at jevohs@aol.com for information about my current work or if you have any special requests.

 

 

Jessica  Emma  Vohs, an artist and poet from Brookline , Mass. , was born with cerebral palsy.  Jessica’s inability to speak or communicate independently, and her physical disabilities,  made getting access to an academic education nearly impossible.  It was not until she was 21 years old, and after intensive advocacy support by her friends at the Federation for Children with Special Needs, that Jessica was admitted to classes at her local high school. Jessica joined City Year in 1994, a member of the inaugural class of AmeriCorps, where she taught others about working with a person with severe disabilities and paved the way for others with severe disabilities to join  in national service.  Jessica is a member of ADAPT, a national organization of disability activists, and continues to advocate for community inclusion for herself and others with severe disabilities.