Diane Sbano, professional artist and senior HAI teaching artist, passed away on December 10, 2002 at the age of 48, after a year long battle with cancer.

As an artist, Diane exhibited her work in numerous galleries and venues. Typical of her courage and devotion to her art, she attended the opening of her exhibit at Monique Goldstrom Gallery in SoHo just days before her death. She was a regular contributor to the popular exhibits at the Hudson Grill and Wares for Art, both in Manhattan.

Her talents as an artist were equally matched with her talents as an HAI teacher. For 15 years she taught those living with major mental illness, mentally retarded/developmentally disabled people and nursing home residents. She was a frequent and much welcomed guest teacher to the HAI Saturday Art Program where, just months before her death, she led a special project that resulted in paper maché mannequins for the program's painted tee shirt project.

Her own work, often three dimensional objects in paper maché, carried into her teaching. She showed her students how to use her techniques to create their own fantastic creatures and shapes. She worked with many of HAI's exceptional consumer artists, now recognized internationally as true Outsider artists, including Lady Shalimar Montague, Carl Greenberg and Kenny McKay. Some of Lady Shalimar's best work was created with materials that Ms. Sbano identified through her usual on-target intuition for what would inspire an individual participant.

HAI is currently presenting A Memorial Celebration of Diane's art at the HAI Loft exhibition space with a reception scheduled for the evening of June 12th. The exhibit opened on May 27 and will continue through the summer until September 4. The exhibit includes Diane’s paintings on canvas and extraordinary three dimensional objects.