Unable to talk or to use his fingers to type, David Young physically struggles to explain why he participates in a weekly art therapy class.

	Martha Rial, Post-Gazette David Young works on a painting. Click photo for larger image.

Laboriously, he makes words and phrases appear on a screen mounted on his wheelchair by pressing his left temple, over and over, against a lever on the chair's headrest. Finally, he manages to write: "It's basically an outlet for being mad."

Though often frustrated by his severe disabilities from cerebral palsy, Young, 41, can paint by wearing a glove adapted to help him hold a brush. It provides him a welcome outlet for expressing his feelings.

The Brentwood resident is among 35 people with disabilities whose paintings, sculpture and puppets are included in "Our Stories," an exhibit that continues through the end of the month at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Young inspired the show's theme by wanting to tell his story through his art, said his art therapist, Ellen Filar.

A comment he wrote about the first of five paintings in the show reads: "This is a cross with a spastic man on it. He is in a wheelchair. He has been through the hardest five years of his life and he wants to tell his story."

Unlike Young, the other artists in the exhibit are deaf or have autism, mental illness or mental retardation. All are participants in the "EveryOne An Artist" program at Allegheny East Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center.

The nonprofit center provides services to people with disabilities and operates an art studio and gallery in Lawrence-ville that exclusively features their work.

Martha Rial, Post-Gazette Karen Slowik of Shaler created this puppet while participating in EveryOne An Artist at Allegheny East Mental Health Mental Retardation Center. Click photo for larger image.

The goal of art therapy is not to produce beautiful art, but to help people communicate their thoughts and emotions, create a sense of accomplishment and foster problem-solving skills. Often, participants explore, with their therapists, what their creations mean to them.

Large studies with children traumatized by illness and with adult cancer survivors suggest that art therapy is beneficial, said Dr. Nancy Gerber, director of graduate art therapy education at Drexel University's Hahnemann Creative Arts in Therapy program.

But such research is limited, she said, in part because art therapy remains relatively new. The nation's first graduate program in art therapy began at Drexel in 1967, though psychiatrists began studying patients' art years earlier.

The Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic has had an art therapy program for outpatients with schizophrenia for at least 15 years. Western Psych also offers art therapy to inpatients, said Robyn Cruz, director of creative and expressive arts therapies. About 2,500 patients participate in art therapy at Western Psych every year, she said.

Art therapy can be very effective with people who have trouble sharing their thoughts and feelings through conversation, the usual approach to mental health treatment, said Dafna Rehavia-Hanauer, a local art therapist and artist who specializes in helping people with eating disorders.

"Sometimes, we can't define what's on our minds," she said. "The art brings it from the unconscious level."

	Martha Rial, Post-Gazette David Young's work titled "Journey To Acceptance," which is among his paintings on display at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Click photo for larger image.

The Art Institute show displays a range of styles and emotions, with many artists, like Young, providing comments on their works.

"My life is like a circle trapped inside," wrote a woman with autism who has several watercolors in the show. "Art has opened me to pursue my own way out."

Another group of paintings was crafted by people who are both deaf and mentally ill.

"These are eyes looking out into the bright sun. It is dark," wrote a deaf and mentally ill woman who produced a painting of two yellow eyes.

Her husband has had a progressive loss of vision, and the painting may be her attempt to relate to his experience, Filar said.

A work by another woman consists of a scattering of brightly colored sequins. "This is me becoming successful," the artist wrote. "I try to reach my goals. I try to express my problems with my mental health and depression."

In a separate group of paintings by people with both mental illness and mental retardation, a smiling woman stands with her hands on her hips. The artist said the portrait shows her "posing for the doctor to get my shot."

Another painting in the same group shows a house set under a red sky, blue birds and a yellow sun.

"I want to be married someday," the artist wrote. "I want to build my house someday in the country."

	Martha Rial, Post-Gazette A self-portait of a woman with mental illness and mental retardation, is among those on display at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh through the end of May. The artist wrote of her work: "That's me. I'm posing for the doctor to get my shot." Click photo for larger image.

Young's abstract paintings in the show reflect a range of emotions.

The first painting is in blue and purple; the second is dominated by red and black. "Red is rage," he wrote. "Black is the pit I was in. I did extremely little praying."

Black covers much of the next painting, called "Journey to Acceptance." The fourth painting, all in green, is labeled "Getting Back on My Feet." "This is where I am today," Young wrote, "coming back from a long, long, long journey."

The final painting, in red, blue and green, asks, "Where do I go from here? I know this knowledge was given to me on purpose. . . I'm supposed to use everything to help people."

The sentiment refers to Young's belief that he should share with others his experience of living with disabilities, Filar said.

Coping with those limitations remains a challenge, she said.

"It's something he works on every day. Art is just another way to help him work through this."

"Our Stories" continues through May 31 at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, 420 Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 412-291-6200.

For more information on Allegheny East's art therapy program, call Ellen Filar at 412-681-2404.