by Patricia Frischer
 |
The Art of Autism Post for Healing |
There is a gathering of exhibitions at the Oceanside Museum of Arts that are in this year's theme Health, Healing and Hope for April Arts and Culture and Creativity Month for the State of CA ,
The Art of Autism: A Different Lens
Matt Devine: Walk With Me
May Jhun: In Losing Sleep, I painted.
The Art of Autism: A Different Lens
at Oceanside Museum of Art
April 5 to July 27, 2025
Every person has a different lens to view the world. The
special skill artists have is to communicate their unique view of the world
visually. What is being showcased in this The Art of Autism: A Different Lens exhibition
is neurodivergent artists. Yes, that is a different lens, but it is what every artist does. In fact, as John Ruskin wrote,
“The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to see something,
and tell what it saw in a plain way.”
I have chosen to shed some loving attention on each
one of the artists included in this show so beautifully presented, as always, by
the Oceanside Museum Staff and curated by Debra Muzikar. But hopefully
this will bring your attention to the some of the challenges and some of the
advantages that this group of artists have. The exhibition has been outfitted with
advice by neurodivergent consultant Alexander Plank to make life
pleasant for those viewers who might need more quiet or a place to regroup in
their own way.
Sensory issues are varied while some are distressed by too
much light or sound, others are synesthetes
and see a vast array of colors and are inspired by music. Some
autistic people are non-verbal and what better way than visual art for them to
express themselves. We like the idea of a social model of disability where we
don’t see people as if there is something wrong, but accepts the diversity of
all of us creatures. And just a note: all Autistics are neurodivergent, but not all neurodivergent people are autistic.
There are seven Peace
and Healing Posts in this exhibition. The posts created previously
express issues common for autism spectrum: Overcoming Depression, Coping
with Anxiety, Diversity and its Connections to Health, and Understanding
Autism made with Temple Grandin,
a leading advocate for Autism. The three
made for this show are with; Teri Inc. headquarters in Oceanside and with
a campus in San Marcos and dedicated to elevating the life of the disabled; D'Vine Path with a mission to
transform neurodivergent people's lives by providing vocational and life skills
training in agriculture, hospitality; and the arts; and the curator of the exhibition’s
non-profit organization The Art of
Autism (the central post). Take
some time and watch the video Joel Anderson from D’Vine Path compiled
about the making of the posts. He used footage from Post for Peace and Justice
leader Kira Carrillo Corser who
also contributes to Compassionate
Arts. Both Kira and Debra work out of Fallbrook.
 |
Post for Peace and Justice Post, all on healing subjects
|
Post for Peace and Justice Post, all on healing subjects
 |
Jeremy Sicile-Kira - see color halos around people and
used that to inspire his art |
 |
Brendan Kerr - his tapestry is an interpretation of landscapes and is brilliantly displayed between two photograph. |
 |
Clark Warren - lamps and only lamps are the recipients
of his found object treasures assemblages |
 |
Madison Ross - the granddaughter of Kira Corser and just one of the artists
who have an amazing loving family to support them. |
 |
Nicholas Kontaxis - maximal effect from color makes this large canvas pure joy and why this artist is well appreciated and acquired. |
 |
Kevin Hosseini - the son of curator Debra Muzikar, this cityscapes was inspired by all the books and exhibition he was more than eager to see. |
 |
Carissa Moderno Paccerelli - portraying her brother who is also neurodivergent, with the loving care deserved by all. |
 |
Alex Nichols - these tapestries incorporate 3-D objects. He has been commissioned to make commemorative tapestries for loved ones using their own mementos. |
 |
Alex Nichols, detail |
 |
Alex Nichols - shows us a truth about how he sees himself. |
 |
Joel Anderson - an impactful display of the objects this artist cherishes in the large tribute pop art like paintings. |
 |
Austin John Jones, digital works - on the left A Piece of Mind, on the right Hollow - body and soul. |
 |
Austin John Jones - those smiling teeth hide a world of hurt. |
 |
Spencer Brown - normally very quiet, Spencer Brown is able to speak articulately while talking about his own artwork. |
 |
Sydney Edmond - an artist and a poet and deserving of the
gold that surrounds her images. |
 |
Noise cancelling headphones and touch boxes scattered through the gallery space |
A room to rest and regroup
Matt
Devine: Walk With Me on view until July 6 at Oceanside Museum of Art
There is a lot to see at the Oceanside Museum of Art and I
suggest you see this display last. It will quiet your mind and ready you for
the outside world again. Matt Devine used to live and work in San Diego in
studios in Barrio Logan. He has since moved to rural Oregon where the accompanying
video shows his retreat with long walks into the county side with his dogs
through the seasons.
At first glance you might think this is corporate art and
it would indeed be much needed and appreciated in a business setting. But for
Matt Devine this is survival art. His is on a “personal journey of overcoming
anxiety and depression.” You must move close and look hard for the words below inscribed in his white and blue disks. You must quiet your mind to see the subtle
shift of shadows in the bright blue suspended rods that reflects the amount of rainfall
nationally and locally. You can stand quietly under the exquisite flight of
birds and marvel at the angles of their movement. You can lose yourself in the interlocking
twigs and twisted metal. Or maybe you can find yourself there!
White:
I am trying to breath, but I feel so fucking shaky.
I don’t want to die. I like it here.
 |
Matt Devine - Lost Orbit, Celestial Return |
Blue:
You are not alone, and where you are meant to be
You are strong, beyond what you think.
|
Matt Devine - Lost Orbit, Celestial Return |
 |
Matt Devine |
 |
Matt Devine - detail |
 |
Matt Devine, detail |
The delightful thing about May Jhun is she seems to dream
in the Art Nouveau meets Steam Punk style. We all wish we could dream in a
favorite style and though her sleep is s struggle, she presents us with a
flowing, flowering installation of images and objects. This is reflecting her
relationship with equipment meant to help her, but which has become a burden. We
see characters’ faces and bodies with the full range of emotions and terrors. Then what looks like mad scientist’s chemistry
lab is complete with a CPAP machine for
sleep apnea.
 |
Mary Jhun |
 |
Mary Jhun |
 |
Mary Jhun |
Mary Jhun, room right
Mary Jhun, room left
 |
Allison Renshaw |
(760) 435-3720
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 11:00am–5:00pm
Extended Hours on First Fridays11:00am–8:00pm
No comments:
Post a Comment