About
Yes Art Works encompasses all of the arts at Creative Work Systems. We provide an array of creative opportunities for people with intellectual and other disabilities to flourish, cultivating pride, confidence, and further independence as working artists.
Studios in Portland, Saco, and Auburn provide artists with the tools they need to explore their creativity in multiple mediums and techniques, including, drawing, painting, printmaking, weaving, fiber arts, woodworking, ceramics, and sculpture. Yes Art Works also connects artists with galleries and local businesses for exhibit opportunities and provides field trips to museums, art galleries, artists’ studios and community events.
To read more about our programs, click here. For directions and other contact information, click here.
Meet the Staff
Mary Jo Marquis: Manager
Mary Jo oversees the YES Art Works program at Creative Work Systems. She is the founder of Fiddlehead Center for the Arts with two locations in the state of Maine. An artist and art educator, she brings ten years of non profit management experience to her position. She is delighted to have the opportunity to serve the amazing artists and individuals that participate in YES Art Works and is continually inspired by them and the artwork they create.
Tree Harmon-Hester: Art Specialist – Auburn Studio
Tree is a multi-media artist who loves sharing the joy of creativity with everyone! She’s been working with people with disabilities for seven years, in various capacities. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design and worked at Hasbro Toy, inRhode Island, as a pattern toy sculptor. She recently earned a Master of Arts at the Bangor Theological Seminary, with a concentration in the arts in ministry, and ethics. While her education and career experience is in the visual arts, she also has a passion for the performing arts. She formed the Chrysalis Dance Circle in 2010, a group that regularly dances and performs together. She is excited about the opportunity to include yoga, dance, music and theater at Yes! Art Works, to integrate a more holistic approach to the arts and life for participants.
Jackie Reis: Art Specialist – Portland Studio
Jackie attended MECA for 2 years of foundation coursework and then finished out her BFA Degree in Studio Art at USM, where she double majored in both drawing and painting. Jackie became an art instructor through her internship at Spiral Arts, INC., a local community based arts non profit. This led her to a position teaching workshops to members of Longfellow Commons, an Independent Living Space in Portland. Jackie is excited to be the Art Specialist in Portland and looks forward to working with and assisting participants with their individual process of creativity. Jackie has a love of mixed media collage, ceramics, book-making and photography, although her primary focus is in encaustic wax painting due to its ability to encapsulate and preserve.
Jennifer Davis: Art Specialist – Saco Studio
Jen studied Art History at SMU in Dallas before returning home to the northeast where she took a job as Painting and Drawing Instructor at Spindleworks in Maine in 1990 where she stayed for 10 years. While there, working with artists with disabilities, Jen acquired an education in all phases of fine art and loved how fun “work” could be. In 2008, Jen joined Creative Work Systems as an Art Specialist at YES Art Works. Her focus is primarily wood, painting, collage and sewing, but she continues to learn and expand her art knowledge through projects the artists choose to pursue.
