The therapeutic nature of art plays a special role at CPC's High Point School, a private k-12 special education school in Morganville. In Art Class, students learn to express their feeling and emotions in a variety of mediums from painting, drawing, sculpture and photography.

One art project that is getting public attention and appreciation is the Adolescent School's "Michelangelo Project." The creative process began in the summer of 2008 when students attending the High Point's summer session were provided with an unique canvas - a white ceiling tile. "This Renaissance program was based on Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel," explained Adolescent School Art Teacher Marianne Petty. Each student selected a famous painting by one of their favorite commissioned artists. Some students painted an exact copy of a painting, while others used the artist's style and technique to influence their own creativity and paint something new. They were inspired by Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Keith Haring, Georgia O'Keefe, Van Gogh and others.

The result was nine inspiring works of art. Their permanent home is CPC's Behavioral Healthcare's Board Room located at the Agency's administrative offices in Eatontown. "My students were very excited and motivated by the fact that their artwork is going to be on permanent display.

Each summer a new group of art students will participate in the "Michelangelo Project" so that there is a constant source of new creations. "Each student leaves a piece of themselves in their artwork," notes Petty.

CPC's Trustees, visitors and volunteers have all enjoyed the this artwork from a unique point of view. "One of our Trustee's suggested that we shared this display by making it a traveling exhibit," explained Tracy Ilvento, CPC's Public Relations Coordinator. We've incorporated this great idea into our 2009 May is Mental Health Month Campaign.

Any organization or business that has 2x4 ceiling tiles in a public area can display the exhibit which will be on loan from CPC. The loan of the exhibit is free to any organization. "Our creative students have many opportunities where they display their artwork to other students like the Teens Arts Festival and Brookdale Community College, but this is a new opportunity to inspire professionals in a workplace," added Petty.

For more information on CPC's Michelangelo Exhibit, please contact Tracy Ilvento, CPC's Development Office at 732-935-2224 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .