AUSTIN -- “How was I going to carve out this life for me that was fitting for who I was?”
That is what Debbie Kizer asked herself 22 years ago after being diagnosed with mental illness. She also struggled with drug addiction years prior. But, she found hope -- through art. Even though she wasn’t an artist before.
“I loved art it was life giving to me,” said Kizer.
But she noticed something about the art scene.
“There were no people with disabilities in the arts -- they didn’t have that kind of resource for even professional materials -- they just weren’t present. And I realized that I didn’t want to be in a community where they were absent, ” said Kizer.
So she created Imagine Art, a Christian ministry, nonprofit and creative space for artists from all over the area.
The 10,000-square-foot space is especially welcoming of those with disabilities and those battling mental illness or addiction, just as Kizer did.
“A lot of artists when they walk in the door, they are pretty isolated they’re not feeling too sure about themselves. We welcome them and invite them to be apart of our community -- our family," said Kizer.
And that family has produced so much artwork.
The art studios operate with open arms. People with and without disabilities encourage each other, socialize and share their work.
And while Imagine art rents affordable space to other arts organizations throughout Austin, artists said it's more than just about the art that attracts them to the space.
“I’ve made so many friends here. These people, they all have something special about them,” said Cameron Erb, who uses the space every week. “Look at all this, it’s amazing these people have really put so much time and effort into their work. Just this work alone shows anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it."
Kizer said the work she sees these artists doing coincides with what she believes.
"I’m a first fruit that has grown into this tree that is providing shade to many other people and now they’re taking the fruit off of the tree and they’re eating it. They’re transforming their own selves and becoming shade to other people," said Kizer.
To learn more about Imagine Art, go here.