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This is the second in a series highlighting a small few of the stellar volunteer and non-profit arts organizations in the Birmingham area. 

Studio by the Tracks was founded in 1989 by Ila Faye Miller.  They're an arts institution, created ahead of their time, who are still pushing the boundaries of conventional classroom facilities for adults and children with special needs.  This day and age, there is a tremendous amount of research supporting art therapy as a viable treatment for Autism and Asperger's, developmental disabilities that have exponentially multiplied their presence in today's children.  In 1989, Autism was still a nearly unknown phenomenon to mainstream public, making SBTT a cutting edge institution that helped to shape Birmingham's Autism and Asperger's culture.

Art Therapy research has shown that the process used to create art encourages emotional conflict management and create a safe place for emotional dialogue to begin.  Classes work as a forum for students to develop their identity and to legitimize their point of view, one that the mainstream public does not provide a reliable place for.   "There is value in how they look at life and experience the world, because it's so different from mainstream interpretation." says SBTT Art Director, Daisy Winfrey. "There is value in how they look at life and experience the world, because it's so different from mainstream interpretation."

But, Winfrey says, "It's actually not art therapy at all, because we don't do any kind of psychological or therapeutic stuff."  While SBTT are certainly not applying formal art therapy curriculum to the classroom, the intentional result is the same as many of the studies performed showing the effect of art therapy on Autism and Asperger's students.  "It provides a creative outlet for people who probably don't have a lot of creative outlets," says Winfrey, and I say if it helps to shape these students' identity and provide a forum for emotional management, even or especially if it isn't in a designated clinical setting, all the better.  At its core, it's art for art's sake.

Art made by the students is sold at gallery openings held at the SBTT facility as well as in spaces around the city.  Adult students are often unable to have conventional jobs, so money made selling pieces helps to provide a source of income.  The art is sold at very affordable prices, meaning for those who want beautiful original art for their home by a local artist but who have very little excess income, SBTT is a perfect score. 

Routine is very important to students with Asperger's and Autism, helping them to build trust and confidence in their environment.
Volunteers for SBTT can help by working in classrooms during the weekdays with students and the studio's three teachers.  "But if volunteers are looking to be in a class, we definitely want people who will come all the time, not just once or twice and then never come again,"  Winfrey explained.  Routine is very important to students with Asperger's and Autism, helping them to build trust and confidence in their environment.  Having volunteers who are a regular, established part of the classroom creates the potential for positive energy and emotional freedom. 

Possibly more importantly and more necessarily, Studio by the Tracks needs volunteers to help organize and promote yearly Art From the Heart fundraisers and regular gallery openings.  This involves artists who will donate their art, people to help advertise and spread the word, and helping hands to prepare for the event.  Proceeds from Art From the Heart provide a large portion of SBTT's operating funds. 

Located in an old filling station type building by railroad tracks in Irondale, SBTT is a small building with a small staff.  One part of the building serves as the classroom space while the other serves as a gallery for students' pieces. Before Ila Faye Miller opened SBTT in 1989, she was a teacher at Allen Cott School at Glenwood to children with special needs .  Some of the adult SBTT students have been with Miller since they were children, which lends even more to the safe, familiar environment SBTT provides its students.

SBTT is also funded by grants and giving.  To give to SBTT, click here. 

Follow the photo gallery link below to view some examples of art by SBTT students.

You may currently view and purchase SBTT artists' work at Bottletree.

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