In 1998 my youngest brother, Kelton, was diagnosed with autism, a developmental disability that affects communication and social interaction. Autism currently affects 1/88 people in the United States. Kelton is a talented individual who runs cross-country and track, wrestles, plays the drums, loves history, and collects bobble heads and keychains.

This year Kelton decided to enroll in his first art class where he discovered his skill for drawing. His unorthodox style made me reconsider my artwork and examine the differences and similarities that exist between our perspectives. According to Paul Collins’ Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism, artists are four times more likely to have autism in their families. Considering the number of artists in my family, this statistic made me question the similarities that exist between Kelton and me. For this reason, we have decided to draw one of his 6,481 keychains a day for one year. These drawings will be as simple and uninhibited as possible. This project will explore our individual perspectives and examine the similarities that exist between us as artists.

Day 110

I recently came across a studio/gallery for adults with developmental disabilities in Oakland, CA called Creative Growth. "This program provides a professional art studio and instruction for over 120 artists in drawing, painting, ceramics, wood, fiber arts, printmaking and photography. There are also independent living support classes that include communication, health, basic academics, current events, cooking, and movement" (Creative Growth website). I wish this studio was a little closer because a program like this would be perfect for Kelt!



This program has also produced some famous artists that are well known in the outsider art movement. One such artist is Dan Miller who is a 49-year-old man with autism. According to One is Adam One is Superman: The Outsider Artists of Creative Growth, "Miller's artwork reflects his persona and his perception. Letters, words, and images are repeatedly overdrawn, often to the point of obliteration or destruction of the ground. Images of obsessional objects, such as light bulbs, routers, or electrical sockets, which inhabit his speech, are reiterated."




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