By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -

Photography: Courtesy of the Marian Center

MIAMI GARDENS | What many people see as weathered driftwood, artists at the Marian Center School and Services see as parrots, pirate swords, teacups, and toothbrushes.

At the Marian Center School and Services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, artists in the Adult Day Training (ADT) Program discover endless creative possibilities in the weathered wood’s diverse shapes, sizes, and tones. The Marian Center serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Archdiocese of Miami.

“This really opens up their minds,” said Maite Roca, ADT art coordinator at the Marian Center. “It’s not the regular art along the lines of ‘Let’s paint a flower’ or ‘Let’s paint an angel.’ It’s really more of ‘What do you see?’ And when you see that happen, that’s everything.”

Roca introduced the driftwood project in 2025 with support from the Gibson family, who donated driftwood collected along the shores of Lake Michigan, where pieces wash ashore from an estimated 600 to 1,500 shipwrecks resting on the lakebed.

Each week, ADT students sort through driftwood in Roca’s art class. They pick up one piece at a time, observe it, turn it around or upside down, until their imagination reveals something new.

 

Finding art in driftwood 

After finding what looked like a teacup and spoon, Bernadette Guilarte — a fan of chamomile tea — shared with the Florida Catholic how she created her piece, “Tea Time.”

“I painted the top and I painted the bottom. And I put some dots on it,” said Guilarte. “Ms. Maite helped me with the spoon. We turned it gold.”

Some students, including Leo Orozco and John Vanegas, discovered complementary pieces of driftwood.

“Leo held up one piece and said, ‘Tooth,’” Roca explained. “Meanwhile, John made a tooth-brushing motion and found what looked like a toothbrush.”

“Me and John worked together,” said Orozco. The two students painted and assembled their piece, “Mr. Tooth and Bristle Bob.”

The students’ creativity eventually earned recognition far beyond the classroom.

From the classroom to the Capitol

Driftwood art made by Guilarte, Orozco, and Vanegas, along with pieces by several other Marian Center artists, was featured in the first annual Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Art Show, held on the 22nd floor of the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. The exhibit, which took place March 10, 2026, was open to legislators, visitors, and the public.

“Seeing our artists’ work displayed in the Florida State Capitol is a moment of pure joy and pride,” said Barbara Psinakis, ADT director at the Marian Center. “It’s a powerful reminder that their creativity, voices, and talents belong in every space where excellence is celebrated.”

Marian Center artists also traveled to attend the event.

“We went to the place where they do the laws,” said Gary Okonor, describing the Capitol visit in his own words. Okonor worked alongside Rakeem Whyce and Bruno Rovaron to create “Pirate Sword.”

During their visit to the Capitol, the artists and their chaperones were invited to the House of Representatives gallery, where they received recognition and a standing ovation.

“The Marian Center is an amazing place run by the Archdiocese [of Miami],” Representative Mike Redondo (State House District 118) told fellow representatives.

He then turned to the artists and chaperones and said, “Welcome to the Florida House. Thank you so much for being here.”

 

At the exhibit’s opening, Bob Asztalos, director of APD, invited Marian Center artists to cut the inaugural ribbon. He thanked them and drew awareness to World Down Syndrome Day (March 21), as well as the mission of APD to help individuals with special needs pursue meaningful lives in their communities.

“When individuals are given opportunities and the right support, they thrive, and our communities are stronger because of it,” Asztalos said.

During the show, representatives and other guests browsed the variety of paintings on display. When they approached the Marian Center’s driftwood art, they were amazed to find pieces like “Plucky Parrot” by Angie Ruiz; “Eastern Blue Bird” by Carolina Wright; “School Days” by Veronica Curbelo, Amanda Lambert, and Luciana Rojas; “Banana Slice with Peel” by Jamie Bloom; and “Daydream Believer” by Arlin Borcegue.

‘They were the center of attention’

“We showed them the pictures of the before and after, and they were very impressed,” said Sister Filomena Mastrangelo of the Sisters of St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, director of residential services at the Marian Center. Sister Mastrangelo, who accompanied the group, said she felt overjoyed to see her students confidently interacting with everyone who spoke to them.

“They were the center of attention for all of the people who were there. One by one, the representatives wanted to see and talk with them. And they were very at home with them,” said Sister Mastrangelo.

Marian Center artists were also interviewed by local Tallahassee news station WTXL-ABC 27. Steve Williams, the artist behind “Mandolin,” shared his creative experience and the joy of traveling.“We program our minds for this beautiful project that I made with my friends,” said Williams. “And we are happy to come and make a beautiful trip.”

For Marian Center artists, the driftwood project became more than an art class. It became an opportunity to be seen, celebrated, and heard.

FIND OUT MORE

To learn more about the Marian Center School and Services, visitwww.mariancenterschool.org or call (305) 625-8354.