Group forming to encourage arts among those with disabilities.

Shelby Soberalski

Group forming to encourage arts among those with disabilities.

#MasonCountyArts

LUDINGTON — An informational meeting about promoting arts among people with disabilities will be held on Monday, Dec. 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the BookMark, 201 S. Rath Ave. The meeting’s topic will be implementing Arts in Motion in Mason County.

“The common goal of Arts in Motion is to enrich the community and lives of individuals with disabilities through expressive art,” said Shelby Soberalski, who is partnering with Arts in Motion executive director Delight Lester, to bring the program here.

Based in Grand Rapids, Lester has been dancing with her students for over 30 years. Over a year ago, she bought a home in Ludington and realized her talents could serve this area as well, Soberalski said. The two hope to expand Arts In Motion to the Ludington area, with goals to eventually expand over other parts of west Michigan.

Lester has worked as a social worker for over 25 years, mostly in the Grand Rapids Area. She is the owner and director of Living Light Dance Company which is apart of Arts In Motion. Five years ago, she made Arts In Motion into its own non-profit, although the group has been meeting for 30 years. She started working with disabled individuals when she was 16-years-old. Focusing heavily on dance and song, she strives to make all of her students happy and welcome.

Soberalski has been an advocate for autism and disability rights for most of her life. “I truly believe that art is for everyone and that it can help heal people as well,” she said.

Soberalski has a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Ferris State University. When she graduated from Ludington High School in 2012, she was awarded the Art Department Visual Arts award, given to the most artistic graduating senior in the class. She is a professional photographer and teaches private art lessons on the side. She also served as Miss Ludington Area 2016. “I hope to bring more of the visual, two dimensional art side to the table,” she said.

Lester and Soberalski will be holding an informational meeting that is open to the public for all who would like more information or to get involved. They would also like to open this meeting to all artists in the area. The meeting will focus more on what Arts In Motion is all about, how it can benefit the community, and how people can get involved.

For more information, visit: www.artsinmotionstudio.org