June 28 – September 3, 2016
This exhibition celebrates the artistic accomplishments of the young people who participated this past year in the very successful Autism Arts Saturday art classes at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Yarmouth. The Gallery and Autism Nova Scotia have worked in partnership to provide a range of visual art experiences for children and youth on the autism spectrum.
Autism Arts is a recreational art program. Its intention is to provide a safe and supportive environment for participants to express themselves creatively. In these classes, an artist works in collaboration with an autism support coordinator to ensure that a well-designed and stimulating art program is offered, including visits into the Gallery to view artworks.
The autism support coordinator’s role is to use positive supports and modifications to encourage individual participation. Volunteers also play an important role in the success of the program.
The projects presented in this exhibition invite experimentation with a variety of artistic processes and materials. The exhibition also explores the concept of working together and the creative possibilities of group expression.
Community wells have been meeting places where people gathered and shared stories that were as vital as the water they drew. They were places to share customs, histories and plans. The Autism Art program, like a community well, is a sharing of sustenance and a sharing of stories in the form of art, conversation and music.
