"Quarter Century" of exploration

By Jonathon Keats, Art courtesy of Creativity Explored

One day, at local arts center Creativity Explored, Michael Bernard Loggins started writing down his fears. Soon his list became a zine, and his zine became a book, cataloging people’s phobias of raccoons and elevators and electronic toys that run for no reason. Fortunately, Creativity Explored made arrangements to have the manuscript published. It came to National Public Radio’s attention and won the author much deserved acclaim. Loggins is one of 125 developmentally disabled artists working at Creativity Explored’s nonprofit studios in media from words to watercolors to textiles. The artists all share materials and, more important, enjoy unwavering support from an organization dedicated to facilitating and exhibiting their work, including Daniel Green’s interpretation of movie and TV policemen. This month, the center celebrates its 25th anniversary with “Quarter Century,” a retrospective of fearlessly vulnerable art—elevators, raccoons, and all. May 1–June 18, 3245 16th st., S.F., 415-863-2108, creativityexplored.org