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Friday, March 29, 2024

Art Talk – The Soul of an Artist

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Technology has made it easy to stay in touch these days. People are accessible through countless platforms 24 hours a day, making the eloquence of someone’s silence deafening. I was recently working with an organization to find a substitute teacher for one of its art camps, and first name that came to mind was Nancy D’Agostino, an established instructor in the region. But all attempts to contact her were unsuccessful. It seemed curious that emails went unanswered, her cell phone mail box was full, and texts failed to solicit the obligatory instant response. A social media post answered our questions the next morning: Nancy passed away unexpectedly in her sleep two days earlier at age 72.

It is hard to reconcile the fact that someone so vibrant, passionate, and giving could be suddenly gone. Nancy, who was recognized in January’s Art Talk for her exemplary work with the seniors at the Riverwalk Adult Day Services (RADS), spent most of her time thinking of ways she could help others. In fact, one of her last Facebook posts was a quote from Aesop that read, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

Nancy once said, “I have a great admiration for those who have prevailed against all odds, and these people find their way into my art.” . . . and into her heart. In addition to RADS, Nancy was also employed by Palatine’s Little City where she taught children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As facilitator of its Center for the Arts, Nancy would spend countless hours assessing the needs and limitations of those who entered her classroom. Through research and experimental approaches, she would devise techniques to ensure that everyone, regardless of his or her capacity, could be a part of the overall process. All of her clients became artists in her eyes and her enthusiasm served as inspiration to those who were initially reluctant to engage. By the end of a session, Nancy could draw her students out of their shells and instill them with confidence.

The arts community lost a talented artist, dedicated teacher, and selfless leader who devoted her life to sharing the beauty of art with others. In all her humility, Nancy never realized the breadth of her impact. But the rest of us did. And we can keep her spirit alive by incorporating her values into our lives.

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Debbie Venezia
Debbie Veneziahttp://www.artsdupage.org
Debbie Venezia is the Director of Arts DuPage, a DuPage Foundation initiative. Contact her at debbie@dupagefoundation.org or visit www.artsdupage.org.

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