A room of golden shells - Woodbine House

On entering a room of golden shells, you might first notice how alike the shells are -- their sameness of colour, for instance -- but soon you see the myriad variations in shape, texture, and size. Similarly, the artists represented in this volume share a common attribute -- Down syndrome -- yet their works of visual art and creative writing are as distinct as the individuals who made them. Created by artists ages 14 to early 50s from the United States and Canada, the 100 works were solicited via a contest and judged by Woodbine House staff. This dynamic collection of painting, ceramics, poetry, and prose marks one of the rare occasions that the creative talents of teenagers and adults with Down syndrome have been showcased outside their own community. Inspired by nature, popular culture, travel, master artists, faith, and dreams, these pieces dazzle us with mastery of craft, captivate us with a novel metaphor (such as the "golden shells" in 14-year-old Fiona Morris's poem), and tell us how it feels to live with a disability.