Institute on Disability Seeks Artists for its 2011 Calendar

Institute on Disability Seeks Artists for its 2011 Calendar

Are you an artist looking for an opportunity to get your work noticed? Do you know someone who is an artist and might be interested in such an opportunity? Every year since 2000, the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire has produced a calendar that features 13 original works of art. These highly anticipated calendars are distributed each year to thousands of people around the world who are connected to the IOD's mission of strengthening communities and ensuring full access, equal opportunities, and participation for all persons. The IOD is currently inviting artists to submit artwork to be considered for its 2011 Calendar.

The theme for the 2011 calendar is reflective of the quote:

“Inclusion is a right, not a special privilege for a select few.” - Federal Court, Oberti vs Board of Education

If you would like to submit, here are some simple guidelines to follow:

All artwork must be 2-dimensional (i.e. drawings, paintings). Unfortunately, we are unable to accept photography and sculpture.
Artwork for submission may be created for the purpose of this calendar or may be selected from an existing portfolio of work.
Artwork should reflect the artist's interpretation of the quote above.
Artists are encouraged to submit artwork with vibrant colors (see links to past calendars below).
Artists are welcome to submit a maximum of three (3) works of art for consideration.
Submissions must include the artist's name, phone number, email address, and title(s) of artwork.
If chosen, the original work submitted will be requested and will need to be sent to the IOD. All originals will be returned to the artists.


Here are links if you would like to see a PDF copy of the 2009 and 2010 calendars.

Please do not send original artwork at this time. Digital copies (scanned or photographed artwork) for consideration should be sent as a JPG or PDF file to contact.iod@unh.edu with “2011 IOD Calendar Art” in the subject line. If you would like to submit a printed copy (not an original) of your artwork via U.S. postal mail, please mail it to:

INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY / UCED
Attn: Matthew Gianino
10 West Edge Drive, Suite 101
Durham, NH 03824

During the final selection process, the IOD may request the original artwork for further consideration in some cases. The 13 finalists will be asked to complete an Artwork Release Form. Please be sure you are able to comply with the terms of the release form prior to submitting. The deadline for submissions is Friday, July 30, 2010. All artists whose work is chosen for the 2011 Calendar will be contacted by August 27.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the IOD

Book focuses on talents of autistic artists

There is an interesting article by the Washington Times on special talents of children with special needs. The article also discusses the upcoming book that I have posted on a previous blog post. I really enjoy these articles and think more needs to be written and discussed about the talents that exist for many kids on the spectrum.

For once I would love for the autism education experts to not give me a glazed look every time I talk about how talented my sons art is or how he has an incredibly photographic memory. It gets to be really annoying when you know these looks are really just a fake smile suggesting that the person you are talking to is not really supposed to touch upon the cold facts that they believe these are only just splintered skills in certain areas that professionals really do not categorize as talent. They are more like an obsession with colors, shapes, numbers, music, art, memorizing.

But I know, as an artist, that these odd skills and rare abilities need to be enhanced. They are borderline genius in many kids and adults, and it is a shame that many just cannot appreciate the talent for what it is. It is almost as if no one really understands a photographic memory or an innate ability to paint, understand music or numbers. Seems education experts should really rethink how we can better accentuate these talents and use them as tools for more interaction and most of all for self esteem. When I was 8 and realized my artistic talents, I was thrilled. I think educators need to also appreciate this more in kids with specials needs and autism. Maybe part of the problem is we do not fully know how they think, thus we do not know how to help them except in our limited capacity of how we learn.

I also want to add, that it is very unfair for children with special needs. Just because they do not learn like other children should not mean that they are denied respect for their talents. If you have a small child that is "gifted" any parent would give them piano lessons or special tutoring in the area that they excel. We as parents of kids on the spectrum must do the same. Find their talents and let them sparkle and shine! You will be amazed at what they can accomplish when given the opportunities.

Special Deeds Children
Washington Times - Washington,DC,USA

There is something very Paul Gauguin — impenetrable colors and primitive forms — about Kevin Hosseini's oil paintings.

Which is very impressive in and of itself considering that Kevin is only 13 years old. Add to that the fact that he's autistic.

"Gauguin & Me" is an oil painting by Kevin Hosseini, a 13-year-old with autism.

"I've painted for three years. ... It makes me feel good," says the Carpinteria, Calif, resident who is working on a large oil painting with bold blues and greens. "It's an ocean scene," he explains.

Kevin's and about three dozen other young autistic artists' works will be presented in a coffee-table book, "Artism A-New," due out in October (submissions are still accepted through Aug. 15 at www.artismtoday.com).

Opportunity: Submit art to new book for artists with autism

The creators of the book "Artism: Art by Those With Autism!" are seeking new, original artwork to include in the next book in this series titled "Artism Anew." The first book on Artism was the winner of the Global Book Publishing Award. (see article post)

The goal of this book, filled with color artwork by people with autism, is to transform the lives of the readers. The project is being spearheaded by Karen Simmons, the founder of Autism Today and the author of the books "Artism" and "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children With Special Needs," and will be curated and co-authored by Debbie Hosseini.

Some of the artists who have already agreed to contribute include: Ping Lian Yeak, Jonathan Lerman, Seth Chwast, George Widener, Gregory Blackstock, Amanda LaMunyon, Marcy Deutsch, Temple Grandin and Donna Williams.

If you or someone you know with autism would like to be included in "Artism Anew," please visit www.artismtoday. com for more information. Artwork must be received by Aug. 15. There is no limit to the number of submissions.