The exhibition features the works of Daniel Reynold and Floyd Chance, two artists with learning disabilities whose collaboration in this unique project began some eighteen months ago. Both artists, who have participated in group exhibitions in the past, welcomed the opportunity to work together with another artist from another country. Over the period of their collaboration, Daniel and Floyd have developed a relationship, mainly through visual communication. The exhibition will be held between 17 May 2012 and 10 June 2012 at the Artists’ House in Tel-Aviv. The exhibition curator is Abigail Hirsch.

This is a first-time project facilitating a professional and cultural exchange between Israeli and British learning-disabled artists. The exhibition aims to develop and promote the work of Daniel Reynold and Floyd Chance, as well as challenging public perceptions of artists with learning disabilities, raising awareness within the arts community and cultural institutions and creating a model for future opportunities for artists with learning disabilities in Israel.

Daniel Reynold and Floyd Chance experience our world differently, expressing their introspective views of that world in a very unique way. The exhibition displays works, which are the culmination of two years of intensive work under the guidance of the Israeli artist Osnat Ben Shalom and the British artist Keith Simmonds. Over the past two years Daniel and Floyd have striven towards this joint exhibition, each in his familiar surroundings.

Daniel Reynold uniqueness is characterized by a strong visual memory, expressed in the descriptions of the landscapes and places that he has visited and the people in the enclaves whilst emphasizing landscapes employing vivid and bold colors. Daniel does not take advantage of photographs and his work is mostly based on memory. His powerful images emerge for memories and experiences.

Floyd Chance has been practicing his art for many years, sculpturing and working with organic materials from his own surroundings. Color is not important for him and most of his works are uniformly colored. Order and structure characterize his works, which contain multiple repetitions. He works with rope and wire coiling, and tends to connect things together. Floyd’s works are very powerful but at the same time, inward looking. Although both artists come from similar worlds, they are very different. However, the aim of the exhibition is to allow the observer to see the mutual connection. At first glance it would appear that their respective works are unconnected and bear no similarity, but on closer observation, it is discernible that both artists are related by the intimate reality in which they live. Both are very connected to their internal worlds, which motivate their creative impulse and form of expression.

The contrast binds them together. While Daniel Reynold creates an open and free world whose boundaries are beyond the figurative, orientated to abstract images, with Floyd Chance the boundaries are very clear. Daniel’s paintings deal with landscape and nature, creating a sense of space and freedom. Fragments of experiences and memories are brought together and absorbed within the scene. Daniel paints with acrylic and oil, relying upon vivid colors.

Floyd Chance’s minimalist sculptures are formed from organic materials. The sculptures are characterized by an order and intensity. Texture is paramount, with natural materials and solid coloring.

The exhibition was initiated by its curator Abigail Hirsch. At a later date, the exhibition is expected to open in London, England. During the exhibition, a gallery discourse will take place with the participation of the audience and the artists, to discuss the project and the collaborative work.

Daniel Reynold was born in 1967 and for fifteen years has been living in Kefar Idud, Netanya. Daniel works as freelance gardener. About thirteen years ago he began regular participation in art workshops and in the over the past four years has studied under the guidance of the artist Osnat Ben Shalom. He has exhibited in a number of exhibitions with other artists. Exhibitions include: the "Complete Picture" at Kiryat HaMemshala, Tel Aviv. "Colorful Tolerance" Salona Bar, Tel Aviv. "Outside The Frame", Municipal Gallery, Natanya and Israeli Art of Bank Ha’poalim, Tel Aviv (March 2012).

Floyd Chance was born in 1962 and lives in London, England. Over the past ten years he has been active at the Artscope studio under the guidance of Keith Simmonds, working in a wide variety of media, including print and painting, concentrating on sculpture during the last few years. His work is highly controlled. Floyd manipulates and tests the physical attributes of the organic materials with which he works, such as wood or wax and his approach to art is ritualistic – repetitive. His works have been exhibited in group exhibitions in galleries including the Old Truman Brewery, London; the Diorama Gallery, London; the Candid Gallery, London; Cockpit Arts, London; and OurSpace Gallery, London. In addition, he has participated in several unique collaborations with artists including working alongside the public artist Sam Hayne and the photographer Joe Hill.

Abigail Hirsch - Exhibition Curator
Abigail Hirsch is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator and curator. She was born in London, United Kingdom, studied photography at ‘Camera Obscura’ in Tel Aviv, completing her studies with distinction in art studio practice and contemporary critical theory at Goldsmiths College, University of London and specializing in research and art at the European Commission. Abigail’s professional experience includes co-running Sparwasser HQ, an exhibition and a project space, founded and managed by the Danish artist and curator Lise Nellemann in Berlin and co-curator ‘Consequences of Summer’, a dialogue program on artistic production and contemporary culture and design.

In addition, Hirsch led a project based on the works of the Iranian artist Siah Armajani for a school at the Center of World Culture in Berlin and currently is continuing to develop and deliver a unique program for special needs schools at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
Abigail Hirsch as an artist, educator and curator of many projects and exhibitions including work with diverse communities with the emphasis on work with artists with disabilities – mentoring in studio work; curator for exhibitions and creating work in collaboration with these artists and others of site specific work including Under Glass – commissioned by University College London Hospital in Central London (2008). Since 2011 Abigail’s activities entail commuting between Tel Aviv and London.

Abigail’s credo is to promote corrective discrimination and encourage awareness and understanding between people from different cultures and backgrounds and with different abilities, providing support and encouragement to everyone in the community to choose and fully participate in creativity.