Everywhere throughout VALLEYLIFE’s facilities, there is artwork created by the people we serve. To personalize our campus, shared living homes and adult day centers, these works of art are proudly and prominently displayed.
Each piece of art is a unique and highly personal reflection of the individual who created it; representing their vision, hopes, aspirations, and their interpretation of the world around them. Art inspires emotion. Regardless of their level of artistic talent, the creative process itself is what defines the artist.

You can see our logo even incorporates a member’s artwork because our members are a vital part of VALLEYLIFE. We are like a family in the sense that we want our family members to succeed, be unique, and participate in life as anyone else would. We feel that art transcends, unifies, and celebrates life, which is VALLEYLIFE.

Learn about our members and their art.

Lai has been with VALLEYLIFE since 1995. When he first started with VALLEYLIFE we realized he had a severe hearing impairment. He had some hearing testing and subsequence fitting of two hearing aids, which have allowed Lai to participate more fully in all aspects of his life. He has also gained some concepts and use of Sign Language and some lip reading and a very basic understanding of English. Lai always gives 100 percent effort in everything he is involved in. He enjoys Special Olympics, volunteering at the Desert Mission Food bank and daily activities.

Donnie has been with VALLEYLIFE since 1993 and lives in one of our 24 residential homes.  Before attending VALLEYLIFE, he was very active in sports. He was a cross country runner for Apollo High School. In late 1979, he was struck by a car while running and received a severe injury to his left temporal cortex. This injury caused a total behavior change that he cannot control and an ambulation imbalance. At VALLEYLIFE, Donnie enjoys sports and has competed and participated in Special Olympics. He participates in Bowling, Bocce Ball and Track and Field. He worked for many years in the Auxiliary Training Center until he could no longer handle the training program. He was one of the first Artists in the Art Program and he produced many detailed water colors that has brought him recognition of his talents.

“Spring Flowers” by Karen Josay

Karen has been with VALLEYLIFE since 1963 and she has a fraternal twin who entered VALLEYLIFE in 1967. Karen was a 14 month old infant who suffered seizures and brain disorder. She was born in Whiteriver, Arizona and is a member of the White Mountain Apache Nation. Due to her high special needs and no providers available locally, she was admitted to VALLEYLIFE. Karen flourished at VALLEYLIFE learning her basic academics and daily living skills. She lives in the one of our 24 residential homes and is currently in the Auxiliary Training Center two days a week and in Adult Day Programs for three days a week. She is a very active woman who enjoys participating in Special Olympics. Karen loves to do art, especially drawing and painting water colors. She is very energetic and the colors she chooses are bright and cheerful and reflect her personality.   

Eva was born in Gostynin, Poland in 1957 and became a Citizen of the United States of America on July 6th 1971. Soon after Eva was born, she contracted meningitis, which left Eva with severe mental retardation, bilateral hearing loss and Epilepsy.  This left her with a compromised ability to communicate.  She started attending VALLEYIFE in 1986 and has been attending an Adult Day Program for a little over 20 years, with her same Supervisor, Celia Galaviz. You can tell what kind of mood she’s in by the colors she uses in her drawings. Eva gets an opportunity to express herself in her art. Eva is very proud of her Art work and will let you know with her big smile when she is complimented on her creations. 

Eva is a kind, fun and silly woman who likes to dance, hug and eat pizza! She participates in the Art Class and Special Olympics and really enjoys everything that is not too physically demanding.

Steven Scheer is one of VALLEYLIFE’s longtime members with many outstanding life achievements. He is an artist who looks forward to creating new art pieces that express his emotions. Today, through work training and the adult day program Steven has become an employed, self sufficient individual with a bright future full of possibility.