Jennifer Quinones wants to turn Summertime Gallery—a Williamsburg nonprofit art studio, residency, and gallery for artists with and without disabilities—into an Egyptian tomb. She envisions hieroglyphics on the walls, the ghosts of King Arthur and Joan of Arc keeping watch, and portraits of cats.
“When I started drawing cats as warriors, Hollywood stars, movie characters, or historic characters, I said to myself, ‘This is really good.’ I just love cats,” said Quinones, who is Summertime’s current artist in residence.
In addition to her residency, Quinones works at YAI Arts, a studio in Manhattan for artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her art reimagines “iconic eras in history and pop culture with cats as their protagonists,” and her show at Summertime, which opens April 10, will focus on medieval times and Ancient Egypt.
“This has been my dream,” Quinones said. “To have my own show with my two favorite periods.”
Sophia Cosmadopoulos and Anna Schechter, Summertime Gallery’s founders, are in the business of helping artists realize their dreams. They founded Summertime in 2019 to fill a void in the city’s art world.
“We realized that there were a lot of local art studios that worked with artists specifically with intellectual disabilities, but no spaces with neurodiverse artists working alongside neurotypical artists,” said Cosmadopoulos. “We really wanted to create that inclusive space where we’re celebrating artists first.”
The gallery’s residency program provides artists with support that includes studio space, mentorship, funding for materials and a stipend, a public exhibition, and opportunities to sell their work. Its application process prioritizes artists who are often excluded from traditional residencies, including artists with intellectual disabilities.
“We think of our jobs as vision fulfillers—to remove barriers and help artists achieve their boldest creative goals,” said Schechter.
A recent Trust grant is supporting Quinones’ residency at Summertime. Trust Program Director Rachel Pardoe recognized the unique service the gallery provides and wanted to help expand its residency program to reach more artists.
“Summertime is doing a great service to both artists and the art world at large— giving the work of talented artists with disabilities the platform it deserves,” said Pardoe.
Located on a wide and inviting sidewalk on a residential block, the gallery’s street-level storefront and large windows engage the local community.
“The neighborhood is a very active part of Summertime,” said Priscilla Frank, the gallery’s studio supervisor. Passersby often stop in to learn more about the gallery and even donate supplies they notice artists using.
“People walking by get kind of a preview, and then get excited,” said Schechter. “Sometimes kids, or other artists, will say, ‘What’s happening in here? When can I come back and see it?’”
This reflects another goal of the gallery: to create a welcoming space that invites audiences to immerse themselves in its artists’ unique visions.
Audiences hoping to experience Quinones’ vision of medieval times and Ancient Egypt “rendered from a cat-centric point of view” can visit the gallery from April 10 to May 10. In the meantime, Quinones, who was selected for the residency from a competitive open call, is logging long hours at the studio creating new portraits.
“There’s a lot of crazy stuff that’s happening today. When I escape to do art, I escape from chaos. I get into the zone. I get focused on a piece,” Quinones said.
