Artistic and Autistic
“One Out of 150 Children is Diagnosed with Autism” is the name of a display of artwork by autistic artists at the TSETSE Gallery in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The June 25th Pawtucket Times describes the show and discusses the artists. 24-year-old Roon Das’s paintings include one of the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, one entitled the “Roon Express” (”given his fascination with trains, that’s no surprise”) and also”Fall Foliage.” 21-year-old Andrew Randall uses acrylic mixed with sand and colors ranging from “deep violet and iridescent greens and yellows. Notes Carrie Sandman, who works with Randall: “I’ve been working with Andrew since October, and his paintings are amazing…..The sand makes the paint thicker and gives it more texture so he can moreorless build it, making it come off the canvas. He has his own technique, and I understand what he’s trying to do.”
Das and Randall were diagnosed with autism as children; 36-year-old Michal Maoz was only diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome after the birth of her first child. She is now the mother of two children, both of whom have Asperger’s; her necklaces and bracelets, paintings, and poetry are on display at the TSETSE Gallery. Notes Maoz about learning that she has Asperger’s:
“I used to feel so alone, unlike anyone else, but when I was diagnosed, I was so glad,” she said. “I wasn’t shocked. My first thought was, ‘Finally, there’s a name to this thing, and it’s called Asperger’s.’ That’s when I knew I wasn’t all by myself, that others were going through the same thing.”
Before that enlightenment, Maoz chose to express herself as a child with poetry, while also dabbling in the construction of jewelry.
While my own son Charlie does not seem inclined towards the making of art—-his creations are few and done with a lot of guidance—he is very much drawn to colors and textures (the mix of dirt, grass and pine needles under his feet in the front yard). And thinking about how he might respond different to art—-to the creation of Das, Randall, and Maoz—gives me a new way to myself think about art and experiencing it.
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POSTED IN: Art, Asperger's Syndrome, Sensory
4 opinions for Artistic and Autistic
mcewen
Jun 25, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I think mine might show some artistic traits if it wasn’t for the need for ‘paint’ to be translated into ‘non-dirt’ or the need for someone to hold the tool of a paintbrush.
There again, next time someone mis-understands me when I explain that they’re autistic, which is heard as ‘artistic’ perhaps I won’t correct them on the off-chance that things may turn a new corner.
Cheers
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 25, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Charlie’s teacher noted to me that he prefers to paint his hands—wearable art, I suppose.
Daisy
Jun 25, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I’ve heard that perfect pitch is common in people with autism. Any truth to this tendency, or is it just an autism myth? Does anyone know? My son may have perfect pitch; his string teachers have commented on it.
Julia
Jul 4, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Music is a form of art.
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