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 254



Closing reception at Ver(a)rt Gallery:

Kelt signed the gallery wall.

He talked to everyone that walked through.


The Bellingham Herald also wrote a small article about Kelt and the show!

SHOW EXPLORES COLLECTION AND CONNECTIONS

JULIE SHIRLEY - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

In February, Bellingham Herald sports reporter Joe Sunnen wrote about Blaine High School wrestler Kelton Nix. The 18-year-old was diagnosed with autism when he was 6, but has made a big mark on Whatcom County.

Joe wrote that Kelton is so well-liked by his peers that wrestlers from others teams in the conference have helped him with his passion of collecting key chains. Kelton started his collection in elementary school and now has nearly 6,000.

Kelton and his older sister, Ainsley Nix, blog about his key chains and autism at keychainaday.blogspot.com.

And now through Monday, May 30, they are displaying 50 key chains and 100 keychain drawings from their blog at a Seattle exhibition that explores the artistic relationship between autism and family. The Monday closing reception with the pair will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ver(a)rt Gallery at Warren Avenue and Republican Street in Seattle.

They also will display their work in the group show More is More at the Lexington Art League in Lexington, Kent., July 22 to Sept. 10.

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