Challenged Man Communicates Through His Art
By Dara Mormile

Artist Regy Bazile stands alongside some of his art that adorns the local residence for developmentally-challenged young men.

Bright colors soar inside the St. Christopher Ottilie residence at 250 Conklin Avenue. The artist’s bursts of contrast fill the living room of the home with shapes, pictures and abstract forms as if they are part of a big puzzle.

For the last three years Regy Bazile, 23, has been living at the Individual Resident Alternative (IRA) home, where developmentally disabled males learn and grow with their peers. Bazile’s drawings are more than intense tones of crayons cascading along a clean page; they are his communication tools with the world around him.

"You can tell what his mood is when he’s doing his work. He certainly sees things different from the rest of us here," says residence manager and rehabilitation specialist Barry Sonuston.

Even though there is little known of Bazile’s history outside of the residency, the Haitian-born, Creole-speaking artist has spent most the time drawing since coming to St. Christopher Ottilie. Staff members say he has progressed and through his art has found an astounding way of expressing his feelings and emotions.

Sonuston, who came to the house in September and has worked with seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, said Bazile has developed a way of communicating with the staff. He believes the brilliant colors in the young man’s drawings convey what he cannot – inner feelings about his surroundings.

"People with developmental disabilities have difficulty expressing how they feel – their communication and verbal skills are not strong," said Sonuston. "Understanding basic concepts can be frustrating and art is a therapy - his link to helping him correspond with us and letting us know what his emotional needs are."

Bazile’s art consists of neon-colored self-portraits and glowing shapes that begin in the center of a page and flow outward. Using only crayons, his drawings of various objects and animals, which were displayed at the home last spring, have become more detailed over the years. Sonuston said all the drawings will eventually be placed in display books and hung in the living room.

Some staffers describe Bazile as "very quiet, neat, attentive and helpful." Their goals are to improve his abilities and everything he’s capable of. Assistant manager Mike Miller says Bazile has always drawn but his output has gradually increased.

"His drawings are very bright and that’s the way he speaks – through colors."

Sonuston wants the community to recognize that despite the residents being developmentally challenged, there is "wonderful progress" going on inside the house.

"This is a societal movement for a group of people who are misunderstood. We’re here to teach these men to be socially appropriate and we hope this story helps to share the work of one of our men and enlightens the community about what takes place inside our walls."

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