The FSU Museum of Fine Arts “What Forever Feels Like: Artist &Autism” is on display. The exhibit showcases art from the Autism Institute.
“What Forever Feels Like: Artist&Autism” centers on personal emotions expressed through art. Center for Autism and Related Disabilities patients use their creativity in an art contest.
According to autismspeaks.org, autism spectrum disorder and autism affect brain development. The disorders create difficulties in communication, interaction and recurring behavior.
Boys are five times more likely to have autism than girls. Center of Disease Control reports shows approximately one out of 42 boys and one in 189 girls in the United States are diagnosed with autism.
In the museum, artwork created by Madison Hongyee, from Emerald Coast Middle School, displayed a student with an endless imagination who has the joy for learning.
An enormous oil canvas painting produced by Mikaela Sheldt presented an ocean destroying calming waves.
The mediums of artwork were not only display by paintings, photographs and sculptures, but there was an array of unique, handcrafted handbags and wallets made out of duct tape.
Jasmine Van Weedln, the communications coordinator for the museum, said the exhibit is relatable because it’s people we know who are affected by autism.
“The exhibitions appeal to a diverse crowd because one art exhibition is dedicated to veterans and then the next exhibit is featured from the autism institute,”Weedln said “It’s good to see the collaboration between all the other exhibitions. The gallery shows great product and people can learn from that. With any exhibition it’s a great learning experience.”
Gabriel Jackson, a senior health information management student from Brooksville, Fla., said the artwork was very beautiful and inspiring.
“Although people with autism have a low aptitude for social interaction, their creative skills shine through their artwork. You can tell the artist of the artwork came from a brilliant mind,” Jackson said.
Nailah Williams, a junior pre-veterinarian student from Beaufort, S.C., said she loves viewing artwork because it is a beauty in itself.
“I grew up loving art because my grandpa was an artist,” Williams said. “He always took me to art galleries and the most popular genre we visited was African art. It made me appreciate art and it’s a good way to understand the artist’s emotions and the message the artist is conveying to their audience.”
The FSU Museum of Fine Arts is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibits are available until Nov. 16.
For more information about this exhibit or other exhibits, contact Jasmine Van Weedln at 850-644-6836 or visit http://mofa.fsu.edu.