Painting her Way Forward: Jordan’s Artistic Journey

The Covid-19 pandemic famously found many of us digging deep and discovering new hobbies and passions as we coped with the isolation of a generational event. For Jordan Caira, it became the spark for a growing creative journey as a painter. Jordan, who is served by our Adult Family Care (AFC) program in Auburn, MA, has added painting to an already rich list of interests in the humanities, including music and theater—going so far as recently headlining an art show at Polar Park in Worcester.

Jordan’s mother, Cheryl, says her interest in painting has spanned her whole life—despite her parents’ lack of artistic skills. “At first, it was just something she did in school. She flocked to art in high school, and we even had a teacher pull us aside and tell us we needed to do something with her art—she had a gift for it,” she recalls. “We were sitting there with our eyes wide open, saying, ‘Okay, how does that work? We’re not artistic!’”

During the pandemic, Jordan’s parents bought her an art table and supplies and invested in lessons. In the months that followed, she spent countless hours experimenting, refining her technique, and developing a style that often highlights nature—flowers, beach scenes, and (occasionally) special projects for friends.

Cheryl says painting serves many purposes for Jordan: it’s a creative outlet, a stress reliever, and a way of expressing care through gifts. “She finds her own way to support others—she doesn’t need me to tell her someone is sad; she just picks up on it,” Cheryl says. “She knows when something special is coming up—if you’re having surgery, if someone’s had a really bad day, or if a relative dies—she’ll paint a picture for them or their family.”

Jordan’s father, Lonnie, says painting offers even more. “She doesn’t just use painting as stress relief—she truly enjoys it. It gets her mind away from everything else. And, it keeps her off an iPad,” he says. “It helps her hone her fine motor skills and imagination.”

Jordan’s efforts recently culminated in an art show at Polar Park—home of the Worcester Red Sox (aka the WooSox)—to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. Alongside WooSox photographer Tucker Collins, Jordan proudly displayed her work for an enthusiastic public, providing more than a little inspiration for everyone involved.

“Seeing young kids with Down syndrome look at Tucker and Jordan and realize, ‘I could do that,’ was powerful. I remember being a parent who was unsure of their child’s future. You hear stories of people with Down syndrome going to college and wonder if that’s in the cards for you,” Cheryl says. “Then you see a kid have their own art show, or a group of kids with Down syndrome doing lyrical dance, and it shifts your perspective.”

She adds: “People who may not be exposed to people with disabilities come to these art shows expecting something small, and they’re shocked by the level of talent.”