Shmuel with his first painting
Shmuel Taurog is a dedicated artist and teacher, particularly sensitive to his special needs students. He firmly believes that art helps to improve health and well-being in all parts of life.
Shmuel brings to his students his love of art and excitement about new art materials. He has a unique thoughtfulness about the needs of his students for whom art activities are both a form of artistic expression and recreational therapy.
Shmuel has his own neurological challenges, but Shmuel’s story is about his special abilities, not his disability. He has been able to combine his skills and enthusiasm as an artist with the knowledge and insights he has gained from his struggles, to make him into the perfect teacher for this student population. He is kind and gentle, and very supportive, providing his students with stimulating art activities while at the same time being able to make them feel comfortable because he knows, much better than most, the problems with which they must deal.
Like many artists with disabilities, Shmuel is largely self-taught. He works in his own studio and those of Summertime Arts Studio and YAI. For Shmuel, the exploration and making of art is like that of any artist: it is at the core of his being. Currently, he is embarking with YAI to create three-dimensional sculptures that will be featured in a Museum of Modern Art exhibition set to open this July 2022.
Importantly and of late, Shmuel gathers a host of organic matter from his walks around New York City. These discoveries, tree branches, logs, flowers, leaves and the like are then incorporated in his new three-dimensional works. The same elements are then also introduced to his students who find new inspiration from the world around them. Shmuel also likes to combine dance and movement into his art making creating remarkable performance art spectacles.
Shmuel brings to his students his love of art and excitement about new art materials. He has a unique thoughtfulness about the needs of his students for whom art activities are both a form of artistic expression and recreational therapy.
Shmuel has his own neurological challenges, but Shmuel’s story is about his special abilities, not his disability. He has been able to combine his skills and enthusiasm as an artist with the knowledge and insights he has gained from his struggles, to make him into the perfect teacher for this student population. He is kind and gentle, and very supportive, providing his students with stimulating art activities while at the same time being able to make them feel comfortable because he knows, much better than most, the problems with which they must deal.
Like many artists with disabilities, Shmuel is largely self-taught. He works in his own studio and those of Summertime Arts Studio and YAI. For Shmuel, the exploration and making of art is like that of any artist: it is at the core of his being. Currently, he is embarking with YAI to create three-dimensional sculptures that will be featured in a Museum of Modern Art exhibition set to open this July 2022.
Importantly and of late, Shmuel gathers a host of organic matter from his walks around New York City. These discoveries, tree branches, logs, flowers, leaves and the like are then incorporated in his new three-dimensional works. The same elements are then also introduced to his students who find new inspiration from the world around them. Shmuel also likes to combine dance and movement into his art making creating remarkable performance art spectacles.
