Day 323

Four of our drawings from the show More is More at the Lexington Art League in Lexington, KY! The show will be up through Sept. 11. To see more photos, check out LAL's Facebook.

Day 313

Today Kelt and I submitted our drawings to an art show in Spokane called NEED | WANT. I thought this would be a good show for us because it's concerned with the "way contemporary American society assigns value and priority." In our statement I tried to explain how this idea relates to Kelt and his keychains, but once I started, it was harder to describe than I thought. This is what we finally said:

Our drawings and Kelton's keychain collection fit well with the show’s concept. For him there’s a fine line between need and want and sometimes there’s no difference at all. Even though he WANTS more keychains, the desire to have as many as possible has become a driving force. For this reason he NEEDS his collection because it provides ease and escape, which is important in a hectic society that’s ruled by norms and expectations. He enjoys his keychains because it’s comforting to control something. Most people with autism have specific interests and prefer a lifestyle that is consistent and predictable.

Day 309

The Lexington Art League recently posted photos from the show More is More on their Facebook, which includes four drawings from the blog! Here are some of the other pieces from the show.

"More is More examines a common tendency towards multiples and repetition in contemporary art. Whether it's an influence from industry, technology, materialism or consumerism, these serial acts have profound implications about the society that created them." -LAL

Clemens Forell A Pseudonym by Dan Kotran

Souvenirs by Josh Willis

Plant Closing by Jerry Atnip

Brand New God by Dominic Sansone

Traversing Place by Johnson Hunt

Day 307

Today is the opening for the show More is More at the Lexington Art League in Lexington, KY. The show features 58 artists from 27 states, which includes four drawings from the blog! A few of months ago Kelt and I were chosen from over 1,200 entries! We're honored and can't wait to see the final results.

Drawings in the show: Day 3, 46, 100, 145
More pictures on LAL's Facebook.

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 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.

Day 251

This weekend Keychain A Day is being displayed at Ver(a)rt Gallery in Seattle! We finished installing last night. If you're in the area, it's at the Seattle Center: 305 Harrison Avenue. The closing reception is Monday 6-8 pm.