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Overview
In this volume, behavior analyst and educator Jill Mullin has assembled a staggering array of work from established artists with autism like Gregory Blackstock and Jessica Park—as well as many who are unknown but no less talented. Their creations, coupled with artist interviews, comprise a fascinating and compelling book that serves to educate and inspire anyone who knows someone diagnosed with ASD. Mullin’s introduction and the foreword by bestselling author Temple Grandin also provide an overview of autism, and advocate for nurturing the talents, artistic and otherwise, of autistic individuals.
“What is the actual experience of living with autism in a deep-felt sense, beyond the social stereotypes and headline-worthy superskills? Drawing Autism, a celebration of the artistry and self-expression found in artwork by people diagnosed with autism, explores just that. The stunning volume features works by more than fifty international contributors, from children to established artists, that illustrate the rich multiplicity of the condition.” —The Atlantic
“Mullin . . . brings together fascinating works by 40 artists on the spectrum with their answers to her questions about their process.” —The Boston Globe
“A testament to the power of art to reveal the inner world of people living with ASD.” —Publishers Weekly
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781617752087 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Akashic Books |
| Publication date: | 03/01/2019 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 160 |
| Sales rank: | 428,847 |
| File size: | 58 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Temple Grandin, PhD, is considered the most accomplished adult with autism in the world. She is the author of several books, including the best sellers The Way I See It and Animals in Translation.
Read an Excerpt
INTRODUCTION
AS SEEN THROUGH THE AUTISM SPECTRUM
BY JILL MULLIN
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability associated with social interaction, communication impairments, and rigid and/or repetitive behaviors. An individual diagnosed on the autism spectrum can experience a variety of symptoms, all varying in severity; hence the term "spectrum" in the disability's title. An individual can be diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (NOS) [Not Otherwise Specified], Autistic Disorder, or be diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder, all of which fall on the autism spectrum. As of 2012, according to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with ASD, which affects individuals from all socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic groups; boys are approximately five times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with the disorder.
Because of the increase in diagnosis over recent years, ASD has experienced increased media attention. Films, TV shows, books, magazines, and newspaper articles have examined the disability in order to increase autism awareness, explore current research and epidemiology, and to examine daily living of individuals affected by the disorder. Because ASD is a spectrum disorder, disabilities as well as abilities and talents can vary from individual to individual. Commonly in the media, individuals with autism have been shown to have great talents in certain areas such as science and math. The intention of this book is to display another area where individuals with autism can have great abilities. Fostering and nurturing abilities despite a diagnosis can help individuals with ASD discover their talents.
Four years ago, when the first edition of Drawing Autism was released, I was not sure who the audience would be. Would it be individuals with autism? Their families? Artists? As it turns out, the book has universal appeal. I received feedback from people all over the world from various professional and personal backgrounds. There were comments and interest from galleries and museums, cultural institutions, social service providers, personal blogs, and the mainstream media. It was extremely exciting and, honestly, quite unexpected.
The book's contributors also expressed enthusiasm. For many of them, it was a thrill for their work to be included in a book that was available all over the world. Some of these artists have told me how they were able to use the book to develop their careers.
Since the initial release of Drawing Autism, David Barth has sold his work in galleries and was invited to Beijing where he was featured in an exhibit at the Inside-Out Art Museum. When I first met Justin Canha, his charcoal illustrations and remarkably detailed small-scale drawings had already been recognized in arts circles, but in the intervening years he has furthered his career as an artist. In 2011, Justin was the subject of a feature in the New York Times about an individual with autism trying to develop his identity as an adult.
It is wonderful that the artists in this book have been embraced and served as inspiration to others by way of Drawing Autism. Regardless of whether or not the book's contributors sell their work or receive media attention, the very fact that their work exists is what deserves to be most celebrated. This is thanks to their individual talents, passions, and compulsions, and the families and friends who surround them and encourage this mode of expression.
Drawing Autism began with an artist named Glen Russ. At an early age, Glen developed a passion for music and drawing, and was also diagnosed with autism. I met Glen at a residential group home in New York City where he lives with five other men with varying disabilities. During the first two years I worked with Glen, every week he would draw many pictures of his favorite bands, like the Jackson 5, the Temptations, and the Whispers. His stylistic stick figures depicting the bands were drawn singing, dancing, or playing instruments as if they were caught in a snapshot from The Ed Sullivan Show.
For two years I cheered Glen on. Every day that I saw him I asked, "Did you draw any pictures today?" If he had, he would display his work proudly (often, the drawings from the day would be held together with numerous staples, variously deployed across the paper). Each day that I saw Glen's drawings I would ask, "Can I take one home with me?" He would shrug his shoulders and reply, "Ahhh, no." And so this scene played out for two years until one day Glen finally answered, "Why yes, you can have it!" I was delighted; I put the drawing on my refrigerator for family and friends to enjoy.
While Glen's art was displayed in the fine art gallery otherwise known as my kitchen, I had many casual observers comment on it. Guests who would pass through my home inevitably remarked on the unique images and asked about the artist and his inspirations. Their questions sparked my interest to look into other artists with autism, as it became clear to me that there must be others with a unique perspective as well.
As a professional with many years of schooling and experience working in the field with children and adults diagnosed with autism, I am well versed in the eclectic and compelling ways in which the minds of autistic people work. But for laypeople, for those who have only ever heard of the condition, it is harder to really drive home the varied nature of ASD. The purpose of Drawing Autism is to provide visual clues as to how the individuals featured in this book, only a sampling of autistic people, interact and react to the world.
The chapters are organized by themes I identified as I spent more and more time with the submissions. My clinical background in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) helped me in sorting out the work so that it provides an overview of the spectrum while showcasing the creative individuality of every single person on the spectrum. These themes and visual tendencies do speak to aspects of the diagnoses. For example, it is common for individuals with autism to become "obsessed" or engage in repetitive behaviors, hence the chapter "Repetition, Repetition, Repetition." Repetitions in the use of numbers, letters, or overall patterns is a trait that some individuals with autism exhibit. Hyperlexia, a psychological syndrome observed in some individuals with autism, is the fascination with letters and numbers often accompanied by an extraordinary ability with written words that can exceed expectations in relation to chronological age. Some of the artwork in "Repetition, Repetition, Repetition" includes this patterned use of letters and numbers. This chapter also includes recurring themes. Some of the artists will recreate the same exact image thousands of times, where other artists will take a favorite theme, such as Shawn Belanger, who enjoys creating work that represents green space or the outdoors.
In the chapter "Interaction, Individual and Societal," many pieces depict isolationism. Some of the artists express difficulty and frustration in relation to interacting with people in general or with individuals who do not understand autism. This chapter represents human, cultural, and societal interaction struggles that the artists felt while creating their work.
"Another World" is a chapter that deals with mythical places. The artists were compelled to create these new worlds. Some of the artists dreamed of new places when their homes and lives made them feel as if escape was the best option. The chapter celebrates the artists' creativity and imagination.
"Bird's-Eye View" surveys meticulously detailed landscapes. In some cases every ray of sunlight is accounted for or every autumn leaf is aflame with color. The detail and beauty related to the scenes can help us appreciate how some of the artists may see their world every day.
"Getting From Here to There" explores the theme of transportation. It became apparent through the submission process that many artists were interested in transportation hubs as well as vehicles. Every day, all over the world, most people ride some mode of transportation. The work in this chapter marvels at the act of a machine — whether a bicycle or a trolley — transporting us from one place to another. For some of the artists, transportation represents the ability to simply watch the world go by.
"It's All History" focuses on work that the artists created because of their interest in the past.
"Art for Art's Sake" is an extremely important chapter because some of the artists completed their work for no other reason than the act of creation. Not each piece of artwork displayed in the book can be linked directly to a characteristic of autism. Some of the artists reported that they felt a compulsion to create something beautiful and emotional. There are many artists represented in this book, and where and why they create what they create originates from very individualistic experiences.
When an artist was selected for Drawing Autism they were asked to complete a questionnaire. Some of the artists were able to answer the questionnaire completely and independently and are quite introspective in terms of their creative process. Others needed some assistance with either reading or writing the answers; parents, friends, or caretakers interviewed some of them. Still others were unable to understand the questions and struggled to answer questions that asked them to introspectively examine their process of art making. Some artists in the book are completely nonverbal and are unable to tell us anything about their work. The content derived from the questionnaire is used throughout the book to have the artists describe their work and their process. All of the contributors received these questions:
At what age did the act of creating art enter into your life?
Why did you start creating art?
What inspires/excites you about creating art?
How do you choose your subjects? Why do you paint/draw what you do?
Do you think your art helps others understand how you view the world?
Who are some artists that you like?
What was the inspiration of each piece of art that you have submitted to Drawing Autism?
Anything else you'd like to say about your artwork?
Answers to these questions accompany the works and have been written by the artists, or in instances when the artist is unable to write, written by a parent or guardian. I wanted to make sure that the artists expressed their thoughts about their work and their lives on their own terms, in their own voices. I have culled out the most intriguing and insightful of the responses in order to enhance the artists' work and enrich this visual portrait of ASD.
Inspired by artists like Frida Kahlo and Paul Gauguin, as well as by the seemingly mundane everyday occurrences that most of us hardly pay attention to, the work draws from myriad influences and inspirations, filtered through the eyes, minds, and hands of these remarkable people.
The overwhelming number of submissions I received from all over the world astounded me. There were those already established in the art world, while many others used art as an aspect of identity — where words often fail, the visual can be used to communicate. Some of these artists have drawn and painted since they were old enough to pick up a crayon, but others came to art later in life; the tactile act of finger painting induces a calming effect for some; for some the compulsion to create illustrations is simply that — an inexplicable urge that must be satisfied.
The artists in this book are from all over the world and their lives have been shaped by very different experiences. However, there was one common theme despite cultural and geographical differences: many of them compliment the encouragement they have received from their families and their friends. Art has helped many of these people gain confidence that has helped them enjoy life more. Without the encouragement of parents, friends, and teachers, some of them never would have gained the confidence to even try and create, never mind share their work with a critical world.
Though Drawing Autism is not a clinical book, it is a remarkable example of how important it is to nurture expressive forms of communication — a lesson worth bearing in mind in general. In these pages, we see how the contributors engage, filter, and interact with the world. For some of them it is the only way that others know what they are thinking.
In researching this book and looking through stacks of submissions, I learned that not only do people with autism have unique visions, but their creativity and talent is boundless. As can be seen in the chapters to follow, there are some unifying themes common amongst the artists, but the message of the book is clear: individuals with autism have a spectrum of talent as well as a spectrum of creativity.
A note on the captions and artist answers:
The captions provide as much information as possible about each piece of art. In instances where certain information was unavailable or unknown the captions reflect that. I have noted when artwork was created by an artist no older than sixteen. I have also identified all instances when the artists have not answered the questions themselves.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Drawing Autism"
by .
Copyright © 2014 Jill Mullin.
Excerpted by permission of Akashic Books.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents: Drawing AutismIntroduction: Nurturing the Ways in Which We See the World by Temple Grandin
Foreword 2013 for Paperback Edition by Jill Mullin
Chapter 1: Interaction, Individual and Societal
Chapter 2: Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
Chapter 3: Getting From Here to There
Chapter 4: Bird’s Eye View
Chapter 5: Another World
Chapter 6: It’s All History
Chapter 7: Art for Art’s Sake
Artist Bios
Thanks