EXETER — Monique Dennis is always one to show her creative side, especially with art.
The 21-year-old Exeter resident has created over a dozen pieces of art while attending Verve Vertu, an art studio that works with special needs adults. She is one of the studio’s 20 students to have work submitted for a chance to have it displayed at an annual Mental Health Awareness celebration later this year.
“It’s juried and has to go through a whole process of being selected,” said Rosemary Wyatt, Monique’s nurse. “Through Verve Vertu, they pick pieces and then it goes to Philadelphia, the board looks at them and then decide which ones will go into this international show. Gwen (Harleman, director of Verve Vertu) is sure this is one that will be picked.”
Monique’s submitted art work is a stethoscope of beads and buttons she made when thinking of her doctor, Rubina Zaman, of Wyoming.
This is not the first piece of art work Monique has had selected for an art show. Her work has been selected for the Fine Arts Fiesta in Wilkes-Barre and the Verve Vertu art show, “Diamonds and Rust.”
Monique has sold numerous art works and her mom saves the money she earns from those works.
Marcia Dennis signed her daughter up to join Verve Vertu because she thought it would be something Monique would enjoy.
“I was looking for something different,” said Marcia. “I knew that Monique would fit somewhere, so I started taking her to yoga and through them, I found a different place. I just wanted her to do something that she was happy with.”
Monique has cerebral palsy, which allows limited use of the left side of her body. Intellectual delays and seizures make communicating with words somewhat difficult but when she gets creative with her artwork, it’s almost all her doing.
“She’s capable of doing it on her own,” said Ann Kuhat, Monique’s behavioral specialist. “But, if you hold her wrist very lightly, she likes that bit of little help. I think it’s because she’s been used to it her whole life, but she is capable, so we usually do light hand-over-hand assistance just to give her that extra confidence to do it.”
Monique is capable of saying words like “hi” and loves to give Wyatt hugs, calling her “my friend.”
Kohat said it’s Monique’s desire to constantly be active that makes her physically and intellectually able to do the things she does such as yoga and dancing. She will soon begin swim classes to strengthen her muscles.
Marcia is ecstatic her daughter has something such as Verve Vertu to make her happy, especially since she has a chance to be recognized on an international level.
“I’m happy for her,” said Marcia. “In this case, whatever makes her happy. I’m glad I found something that she enjoys doing and that she looks forward to doing. If she’s happy, I’m happy, too.”
