2014-602-E Arts - Friends of the Carrboro Branch Library for 2014 Arts Grant Agreement $1,500

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DocuSign Envelope ID: C65FFCA2-OCAA-4476-9EO3-793FA837F635 I was singled out at age 7 as "having talent". I was always busy drawing,shaping, and cutting something. In Junior and Senior High school I won awards at the school, regional and national levels. I was repeatedly told of my obligation for having such talent. I made the decision to abandon art all together but I couldn't stay out of the studio and ended up with a BFA in Sculpture from UNCG. I wanted to continue school and pursue a MFA but instead spent the next 22 years as a decorative painter. In 2005 1 explored the idea of going back to graduate school by taking a class at UNCG. The class focused on idea development and I produced a series small thumbnail sculptures that capture the elements that so draw me to sculpture. I have been a decorative painter by trade since 1990. 1 was extremely resistant to going into the field but went there anyway. Over the years I worked with several exceptional decorative painters, learning specialties from each of them. I had almost always avoided color in my personal work but then spent 20 plus years thinking of little else, all the while adamant in my insistence that I didn't like the work and that it was not art. Finally I realized that all of my complaining was getting me nowhere so I began to actively watch the process. I realized that while I did not consider what I was doing art, I approached each job as an art project. The process was the same: idea,excitement,gathering, doubt, panic, persistence, execution, completion (or loop back and start over). OK, interesting, but I still don't want to do it. I did however acknowledge that there were elements involved that did appeal to me. I had developed my own approach and style to interior painting,thinking always of the whole,the energy,the weight and balance,the composition of rooms that make up the space. I am entering my 2"d year of not painting interiors and am now eager to find a way to incorporate all that I learned as a decorative painter, my preference for three dimensional art, my fascination (if not love of)color and to find ways of connecting it all. My involvement with the CIDD's self-advocacy and leadership training has helped me to blend my own experience and insight with structure and focus to fine tune my interests. I am learning how I can help fill a need in both the autism community and the community at large. While awareness of autism has become mainstream, understanding has not. As this is remedied, we will all be the better for it. With the dramatic increase in autism spectrum disorders every member of a community will be effected, either directly or indirectly, so understanding is no longer optional. It is time for fear and stigma to be overcome. My goal as I learn more about myself and others is that I will be able to refine my own way of communicating my reality successfully and perhaps help others to better see theirs. I have an artistic ability that was dominant by age 7 and that will always be a part of my life. I hope to incorporate visual language as yet another means of spreading insight and understanding to every facet of the community.