By Shuka Kalantari

Instead of Santa Claus or Frosty the Snowman, this year people can get holiday cards from local artists with drawings of black-and-white tropical islands and rainbow-colored fir trees.

Chelton Loft, a voluntary community clubhouse for adults with a history of chronic mental illness, is selling greeting cards this season made by its members.

“We wanted a way to personalize holiday greetings,” said Jennifer Bertrand, director of community relations at Fedcap, the umbrella organization that began Chelton Loft. “In New York City there’s such a pool of talent. If we have members who happen to be good photographers, why not give them a chance to show their work?”

Chelton Loft, on West 19th Street and Seventh Avenue, is a place where adults 18 years or older who have a documented history of ongoing mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder or depression can go to socialize and receive job training.

The two winter-themed drawings were picked out of a pool of 20 entries from Chelton Loft members. The cards cost $10 for 12 cards, and proceeds from the sales go to Fedcap, a non-profit that offers vocational training programs for people with various disabilities.

But activities at Chelton Loft aren’t limited to creating winter-themed cards. Members divide administrative and kitchen tasks and have the option of getting employment training in a variety of fields. They can learn graphic design or data-entry on the loft’s computers, for example, or receive culinary training in the loft’s industrial-sized kitchen, which is often bustling with members making huge meals for co-members and staff. And although Chelton Loft is space to receive job training, it is also a stable environment where members can go to socialize, learn and be creative.

“We provide training to members by determining what skills and interests they have through diagnostic testing,” said Bertrand. “But art and creativity are also a huge part of the activities here.”

Inside Chelton Loft, the walls are filled with colorful pieces of art created by members and collages of photographs from past events. Rows of plants line the large windows and the staff members’ desk. To the right there are a series of desks and computers for computer training. In the far left corner, a colorfully lit Christmas tree stands next to a stage with a suspended Santa Claus on his sleigh. On the stage stands a large keyboard and a mic that members use for poetry readings, open mics and music performances.

Chelton Loft member Robert Kaplan, whose artwork appears on one of Fedcap’s 2007 holiday cards

Robert Kaplan, whose designs grace this year’s Christmas cards, said he preferred to do most of his art at the loft. A 45-year-old New York native who lives on the Upper West Side, Kaplan has been a member of Chelton Loft for nine months.

“I come here for the community atmosphere,” said Kaplan. “It’s good to feel like you’re a part of family. This is a good place to learn, a place where I can be very creative. It’s a sanctuary space to do my artwork.”

Kaplan was inspired to create his holiday card drawing, called “Winter in the Tropics,” after the series of tsunamis that hit Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand in 2004. The black-and-white drawing is of a tropical rain forest with faces drawn into the landscape. Kaplan then used a computer-generated effect to create a black-over-white image, making the tropical shores look covered in snowflakes.

“People are drawn to the life-like faces,” said Kaplan. “It brings out how life-like the tropics can be.”

In contrast to Kaplan’s black-and-white tropics, the other artist whose design was chosen for the cards, 52-year-old Cynthia Stickler, chose to create a drawing of colorful fir trees called “Firs in Winter.”

“I went to Starbucks one day and saw their little table with the tiny ceramic tiles,” said Stickler. “One day I said, ‘Man, I wish I could do that,’ so I went home and starting working on them.”

Stickler’s pictures are made by drawing and coloring in small boxes, giving the images a mosaic-like effect.

“Each picture takes anywhere from 40 to 60 hours to complete,” Stickler said.

A resident of the East Village, Stickler joined Chelton Loft in September 2007. She said she visit two or three times a week.

“I need structure, and coming here gives me that,” Stickler said. “It gives me structure, activities and companionship.”

Andy Germak, Chelton Loft’s program manager, said people chose to come to the loft because it varied from the medical models of many programs.

“We call people members instead of patients or clients,” said Germak. “We don’t have doctors or psychologists on staff. A lot of our members don’t focus on mental illness. We know them as people and as artists.”

Twenty percent of the 110 members work in competitive jobs, said Germak.

“We empower people to behave in ways that will make it easy for them to integrate into the community,” said Germak. “We mirror the real world here.”

To purchase Chelton Loft’s winter-themed holiday cards, visit Chelton Loft at 119 W. 19th St., Suite 201. Cards also can be purchased by calling 212-727-4245 or by emailing info@fedcap.org.