Keychain A Day: sculpture

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 sculpture. Show all posts

Day 311

Piece #13, buttons

This is the 13th piece for our sculpture project. We haven't written the artist statement yet, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials. So far he's enjoyed wrapping and tying the most.

The materials are also important because people with autism often have unique responses to sensory stimuli. Examples include high threshold for pain, oversensitivity to sounds or being touched, exaggerated reactions to light or odors, or fascination with certain stimuli, etc. Hypersensitivities and/or hyposensitivities vary depending on the individual; for people with autism the continuum can range from no reaction to responses in all five senses.

This material was inspired by artist Nick Cave.

Soundsuit, 2009
Mixed Media

Day 259

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Piece #12, raffia

This is the 12th piece for our sculpture project. We haven't written the artist statement yet, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials. So far he's enjoyed wrapping and tying the most.

The materials are also important because people with autism often have unique responses to sensory stimuli. Examples include high threshold for pain, oversensitivity to sounds or being touched, exaggerated reactions to light or odors, or fascination with certain stimuli, etc. Hypersensitivities and/or hyposensitivities vary depending on the individual; for people with autism the continuum can range from no reaction to responses in all five senses.

This material was inspired by artists from the Tjanpi Desert Weavers organization.

Narelle Holland dancing with tjanpi tjilku, 2010

Deep Rockhole Basket
Pantjiti Mackenzie
Hand dyed Raffia, 2009

Day 257

Tonight was the end of the year high school art show.
Kelt had his own display and won the Juror's Choice award!

Rubber Band Keychain
Block Print

Day 234

Piece #11, sand

This is the 11th piece for our sculpture project. We haven't written the artist statement yet, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials. So far he's enjoyed wrapping and tying the most.

The materials are also important because people with autism often have unique responses to sensory stimuli. Examples include high threshold for pain, oversensitivity to sounds or being touched, exaggerated reactions to light or odors, or fascination with certain stimuli, etc. Hypersensitivities and/or hyposensitivities vary depending on the individual; for people with autism the continuum can range from no reaction to responses in all five senses.

This material was inspired by artist Andy Goldsworthy.

Line drawn in sand
Abersoch, Wales
September 1983

Carved Sand
Haarlem, Holland
13 August 1984

Day 222

Piece #10, wax sticks

This is the 10th piece for our sculpture project. We haven't written the artist statement yet, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials. So far he's enjoyed wrapping and tying the most.

The materials are also important because people with autism often have unique responses to sensory stimuli. Examples include high threshold for pain, oversensitivity to sounds or being touched, exaggerated reactions to light or odors, or fascination with certain stimuli, etc. Hypersensitivities and/or hyposensitivities vary depending on the individual; for people with autism the continuum can range from no reaction to responses in all five senses.

Wax sticks organized neatly.

This material was inspired by artist Robert Ortbal.

Architecture of a Scent: Nutmeg, 2008
44 x 38 x 27"
Wire, aqua resin, fiberglass, paint, metal flake and flock

Parallel Questions: green and yellow, 2003
45" x 26" x 13"
Wax, tool dip, wire

Day 208

Piece #9, fingernail polish

This is the 9th piece for our sculpture project. We haven't written the artist statement yet, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials. So far he's enjoyed wrapping and tying the most.

The materials are also important because people with autism often have unique responses to sensory stimuli. Examples include high threshold for pain, oversensitivity to sounds or being touched, exaggerated reactions to light or odors, or fascination with certain stimuli, etc. Hypersensitivities and/or hyposensitivities vary depending on the individual; for people with autism the continuum can range from no reaction to responses in all five senses.

This material was inspired by artist Paul Rusconi.

Alex Olson, 2009
digital screen inks on plexiglas with monochromatic c-print & nail polish, 68 x 48 in

Ryan Sheckler, 2009

digital screen inks on plexiglas with monochromatic c-print & nail polish, 68 x 48 in

Day 186

Today Kelt got this keychain and 2 others from our grandparents' friend.

Now he has 5,901!

Another quote from Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome. I'm glad I'm reading this book because it seems like Kelt and Luke Jackson (author) have a lot in common. In the section, Strings and Things, Jackson describes his love for wrapping, which is also an activity that Kelt's always enjoyed.

"Another thing that I loved to do, still do actually, is to tie string everywhere. I like the idea of chain reactions - one thing happening which triggers off another, which triggers off another and so on... It's a bit hard to explain how rewarding and satisfying it is to tie things together. It is just one of those hypnotic things that distract me from the real world for a while and is so much fun" (52-53).

Our 1st and 6th sculpture pieces.
Out of the eight we've done, these have been his favorites.

Day 179

Piece #8, rubber bands

This is the 8th piece for our new project. We haven't written the artist statement yet or figured out the specifics, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials. So far he's enjoyed wrapping and tying the most.

The materials are also important because people with autism often have unique responses to sensory stimuli. Examples include high threshold for pain, oversensitivity to sounds or being touched, exaggerated reactions to light or odors, or fascination with certain stimuli, etc. Hypersensitivities and/or hyposensitivities vary depending on the individual; for people with autism the continuum can range from no reaction to responses in all five senses.

This material was inspired by friend and artist Nickolus Meisel.

teeny
Lamination, rubber bands, and thread on black wall.
10" x 12", 2007

I surrender
Mixed Media Installation
Edmonds Arts Festival Museum Gallery
Edmonds, WA
2009

www.nickolusmeisel.com

Day 173

Piece #7, pom poms

This is the 7th piece for our new project. We haven't written the artist statement yet or figured out the specifics, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials. So far he's enjoyed wrapping and tying the most.

This material was inspired by artist Holly Campbell.
http://holly-campbell.com/home.html

Day 165

Kelt got two more keychains in the mail today from my friend Amanda! Here is a drawing of 1/2. Now he has 5,841. We also finished another sculpture piece:

Piece #6, shoe laces

This is the 6th piece for our new project. We haven't written the artist statement yet or figured out the specifics, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials. So far he's enjoyed wrapping and tying the most.

This material was inspired by artist Judith Scott.

Photograph by Leon Borensztein for the book One is Adam One is Superman

Borensztein showing Scott her picture in the book

"Judith Scott was a fiber artist who was isolated from outside influences because of the severe impact of deafness and Down syndrome. She was very independent and self-directed. Crafting armatures of bamboo slats or other discarded materials, she wrapped these forms with lengths of knotted cloth or yarn. Her sculptures reflect little cultural input and are highly individualistic, expressing Judith's own personal vision." -Excerpt from One is Adam One is Superman: The Outsider Artists of Creative Growth

Day 148

Crayon wax, piece #5

This is the 5th piece for our new project. We haven't written the artist statement yet or figured out the specifics, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials.

This material was inspired by friend and artist Mary Woodall.
http://www.marywoodall.com/

Day 144

Beads, piece #4

This is the 4th piece for our new project. We haven't written the artist statement yet or figured out the specifics, but want to work with a variety of materials, such as wax, glue, and clay, etc., to see what Kelt likes. I'm curious to observe his process and learn if sculpture is a medium that he enjoys. I'm also interested in his relationship with the different materials.