Patty Mitchell Shares Her Inspiration for Creating Passion Works Studio

When Patty Mitchell first considered colleges, her father encouraged her to check out Ohio University. Her family had previously lived in the area, and she knew from the moment she visited Athens that she wanted to plant her roots there. 

“The Ford station wagon was parked right next to the green,” Mitchell recalls. “I stepped out, I looked around and thought, ‘I’m going to live here the rest of my life.’ ”

She studied photography, which led her to many different parts of the world, but in 1998, she returned to Athens to set up a small art studio in a supported work environment where people with developmental differences were paid to perform factory-style tasks. After completing their work, they would head to Mitchell’s studio to express their creativity.

When a staff member brought old printing plates into the art studio, the workers began painting on them, then cutting and bending the aluminum pieces into shapes. From this, the Passion Flower was born and has become the studio’s flagship creation. Today, the studio, now located in uptown Athens, employs 24 artists with developmental differences. We talked with Mitchell about the impact of Passion Works, how she maintains an inclusive environment and what the studio means to her.

What has the impact been on the lives of the people involved with the studio?
Typically, people who are seen as having developmental differences are seen as the “other.” We don’t want to starve our community from not having full participation of all its members. We don’t wait to be invited to the party; we’re the ones throwing the party. We have these natural connections. … [It’s] the blending and the weaving of community for full participation, and I just love watching that happen.

How do you make sure that the environment stays inclusive and supportive for people of all abilities? 
Through making fine art, we find out what people are really interested in, what their styles are and what they like to do. We follow that aesthetic lead to blend experiences and talents and abilities. … I believe that when people have different experiences, it gives them a chance to imagine things differently. We’re all just here to love and to feel connection and have purpose.

What do you most want to communicate through Passion Works Studio?
That we all have incredible magic in us. When there’s imagination and creativity and love and experimenting and being in a safe space, amazing things happen. … I believe that we’re creative creatures, and we’re not here for very long. Let’s just enjoy ourselves as much as we possibly can. And if we can self-entertain and create this much energy and joy, why wouldn’t we?

For more information, visit passionworks.org.

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