Seventy-six works by 39 artists are in the “Disability Pride Exhibition,” through Aug. 8, David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries, Baum School of Art, Allentown.

“This is the first year The Baum School partnered with Disability Pride PA and Lehigh Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance (LVACA) to do an exhibition alongside the Disability Pride Festival,” says Emily Strong who curated the exhibition. “Penn State [Lehigh Valley] hosted the Disability Pride exhibition last year.”

“All artists were accepted for the exhibit,” says LVACA Program Manager Jacqui Schwartz about the Baum show. “The exhibit provided disabled artists with the opportunity for a month-long exhibition, the ability to sell their artwork, audio descriptions of certain pieces, an art opening, and a live audio description tour on the day of the event.”

Jae Kazmar’s “Cyclical” (2024; mixed media, 24 in. x 8 in.) reflects the artist’s philosophy of the cycles of life, birth, growth and renewal within interconnected layers of existence. Another piece in the exhibit pays tribute to Kazmar’s late father.

A Baum art student since age 14, Reading, Berks County, resident Kazmar had an internship at Baum after graduating from high school. “My parents would drive me up once a week every week to come to classes here,” says the 28-year-old textiles and fibers artist who grew up in the Reading area and attended cyber school. “They were really invested in my arts career.”

Despite a late diagnosis of autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Kazmar, whose pronouns are “they/them,” overcomes these challenges through art. Hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) is another obstacle Kazmar faces daily. “I have ring splints so my fingers don’t bend when I’m trying to hold tools,” says the artist about the genetic disorder that makes joints “more bendy,” causing chronic pain, fatigue and soft tissue injuries.

“I’ve had to both limit myself and I’ve expanded in a lot of ways that I have never thought possible before,” says Kazmar whose day job is in product and prototype design for Wyomissing-based Design Group Americas that produces craft kits. “I have a really cool job.”

Kazmar graduated high school in 2014 and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kutztown University in 2018.

Stacy Ludwig’s “Abstract Pour Paint” (2024; acrylic, 12 in. x 12 in.) has vibrant colors swirling around inside a hexagon frame. Of her autism diagnosis, Ludwig says, “I did overcome it as I got older.”

Ludwig is a 2014 graduate of Emmaus High School. The long-time Baum School student and Lower Macungie Township-based artist’s favorite medium is poured paint.

Participating artists include: Marie Jeanne Habba, Michael Freeman, Claudio Zaffarese, Ray Lapinski, Erika Salus, Heidi Hooper, Rain Black, Ian Kent, Nina Boodhansingh, Sheila Uvinas-Estrella, Ari Bowman, Austin Peluszak, Rebekah Peluszak, Ash Wallen, Amanda Díaz Amaral, Alex Racines, Ajai Ananthan, Justin Kaniper, Tina Yesenofski, Isabelle Morales, Jason Trebat, Penny Kornet, Jameela Mathis, Debbie Garlicki, Marissa Grello, Levi Cury, Jessica Shannon, Arjun Oza, Nick Travers, Becky Sausser, Dianne Michels, Janet McIlhenny, Andy Matzura, Sara Chang, Jeremiah Johnson, Connor McGaughran and Hal Cline.

“The exhibition is a mix of students here at Baum and community members who are not enrolled in classes with us,” says Strong. “Many of the students who participated are in our Creative Abilities class, taught by Rosemary Geseck in partnership with Autism Society Lehigh Valley President Miriam Ludwig. This class is specially designed for adults with autism.”

The exhibit is in conjunction with the Disability Pride Lehigh Valley Arts Festival, July 20, Allentown Arts Park. The event representing the disabled Lehigh Valley community featured art, live music, activities, resource tables, food trucks and games.

Audio descriptions of the Baum School exhibition are provided by Maggie Mills of Cedar Crest College and Elise Schaffer of Lehigh University Art Galleries.

“Disability Pride Exhibition,” David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries, The Baum School of Art, 510 W. Linden St., Allentown. Gallery hours: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday. 610-433-0032, https://www.baumschool.org/

“Gallery View” is a column about artists, exhibitions and galleries. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com