Keychain A Day: animals

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.

Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts

Day 363

For the rest of the project I'm going to have a few people in
Kelt's life write guest posts. This entry is by our sister Kenzi.

I thought my dad was joking when he told me I was going to be Kelton's new aid at Whatcom Community College. I realized that he was being serious after attending orientation. As a recent Washington State University graduate, I was not exactly thrilled with the idea of spending my first year in the real world at community college.

It was a difficult process finding classes and programs that would work best for Kelt. After hours of research, tests, phone calls and meetings, my family realized that he would need an aid to be successful. We went back and forth between my mom and I, but finally decided it would seem more normal if I was the aid rather then his Mommy!

The first day of school Kelt introduced me as his personal secretary; last week he announced during math class that my breath smelled like grass; and in weight training he continues to tell everyone that I'm weak and can only do one pull-up. Being his personal secretary and sister can be unpredictable and nerve-racking, making it hard to decipher my role (sister or aid). Through this experience I have realized more then ever that I need to let him be himself. It’s important that people accept him for who he is.

If you were to ask Kelt about college, he would tell you that he's having fun and loves seeing people he knows. I'm happy that I'm helping my family and that Kelt gets to experience college. We've been going to Whatcom for four weeks and each day continues to be exciting. Wish us luck for the rest of the quarter!

Day 360

Justin and his family: Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

Justin with girlfriend Paloma: Andrea Morales/The New York Times

Justin working at Gencarelli's Bakery in Bloomfield, NJ.
Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

Justin's composition book: Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

Justin Canha: Mother and Child 3

I recently read the article Autistic and Seeking a Place in an Adult World in the New York Times. Justin Canha, a 22-year-old artist from NJ, has successfully found work, friends, and a girlfriend despite his struggles with autism. Through his family and transition teacher, Kate Stanton-Paule, he’s developed social, vocational, and sensory strategies to cope with the overwhelming rules of our society.

Canha started drawing as a young child as a form of communication. From there he started filling his composition books with miniature cartoon characters and used art to complete school assignments. In 2008 the Ricco Maresca Gallery in NYC sold 12 of his paintings at the Outsider Art Fair, some for as much as $4,000! With such early success, his family started thinking about a future in art. After his senior year, he started the 18-21 transition curriculum at Montclair High, which was a progressive post-secondary program that emphasized community interaction. He volunteered at a library, animal shelter, and elementary school and eventually got an internship at an animation studio, Nightstand Creations. After the internship he started working at a bakery and currently works in an art store. He hasn’t become a famous animator-illustrator yet, but continues to draw and paint until he reaches that goal.

Day 339

I recently came across the blog, Grow Your Brain, by artist Seth Chwast, which shows his work and exhibitions. He's been shown at the Museum of Modern Art in Ukraine and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History; has a mural at the Time Equities Building in NYC; is one of the 54 artists in the book Artism; and co-wrote a book with his mom, An Unexpected Life, to list a few of his accomplishments.

"Chwast was diagnosed with autism as a very young child, lived for years in a world of roller coasters, haunted houses and classical music. A dramatic change came in 2003, when at age 20 he took an oil painting class at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Seth, who rarely speaks, began describing his world in paint. He displayed an innate ability to mix colors and create amazing works of art that reflect his vision of his world and the world around him." -Grow Your Brain

Six Self Studies, 70" x 84", acrylic on canvas, 2005

Museum of Modern Art, Ukraine

Manhattan Floating, 104 individual panels 16" x 24", 2010, Time Equities Building, NYC

New York, New York Right Side with Crane and Clock, 22" x 22", graphite on paper, 2010

Day 331

Kelt got this keychain today from a thrift store in Spokane. So inappropriate!

Justin Dixon is another artist that's introduced in the book Artism. This book shows 54 artists across the world with autism that range in age and experience. Dixon is a 17-year-old emerging artist from New Jersey that draws and paints his favorite logos that he collects from a variety of tv shows and movies. Besides painting, he enjoys watching games shows, swimming, bowling, and playing the xylophone. To learn more about the different artists in the book, check out the website, Artism Today.

Day 321

Day 314

Today Kelt got this keychain and another one in the
mail from our good friend Shelby. Now he has 6,174!

Day 292

Thursday, July 7, 2011

The Fly: blind contour drawing of 1/160 of Kelt's bobble heads.

These drawings are blind except when I briefly look at the paper to set the pen. This series represents Kelt's uninhibited drawing style and enhanced visual skills. To view more, click the bobble head label to the right.