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The following are “sketches”, captured in words, of some happenings during recent virtual studio sessions, which we began offering for artists in response to COVID-19. (Find out more about Make Studio’s response to the coronavirus here.)

Wednesday, May 20

Everyone on the call had EGGS for breakfast! 

While we drew our self-portraits together, the question arose:

“What about evil twins?” 

We (especially, Louis) listed famous evil twins in media: 

• Power Puff Girls // Rowdy Ruff Boys  
• Darkwing Duck // Negaduck 
• Sonic // Scourge 
• Shaggy // The Mirror Monster 
• ..and Margie Smeller // Her Evil Twin = a bunny 

Many of us added our evil twins into our self-portraits, to which Gary replied: 

“Diabolical!” 

[Afterwards, it was just discover that it’s Gemini season !!] 

Discussing our fellow studio ECF Art Center’s upcoming muppet event (find out more here to join in!) inspired many muppet drawings today. 

We discussed, “How do artists shape messages through their artwork?” 

• Emailing pictures of art 

• Using characters and color to show emotion

• Using figurines

• Telling about what they are drawing 

• Using visual jokes 

• Drawing facial expressions that show emotions 

• Sharing positive messages with direct speech bubbles that talk to the viewer 

Friday, May 22

We discussed, “What makes you feel relaxed?” 

• Watching tv shows 

• Reading books on Alexa 

• Rain (so long as you’re not in it) 

• Tension Tamer tea 

• Dark chocolate after dinner 

• PJs at midday 

• Going on a run or doing yoga – zone out, zen out 

• Exercising two times a day 

Erika shared words of wisdom on evil twins:

“Confront it, face it, become a stronger person. Don’t reject your shadow.” 

 Wednesday, May 27

We practiced documentation using ECF’s tutorial, which helped us choose a good light source and avoid shadows, and everyone took photos of their work. Here’s Margie’s test shot:

Louis was moved to pose the intriguing question:

“What’s a self-destruct?” 

He came up with a list of examples throughout the call: Sonic, Bugs Bunny and Marvin Martian, Jackie Chan, Power Rangers, and James Bond. Louis and Iragi both made some drawings on the subject. 

Iragi wrote Rosie later, to fill her on other thoughts on the subject:

“I know Self-destruct is a mechanism that can cause an object to destroy itself or render itself inoperable after a predefined set of circumstances has occurred & mechanisms are typically found on devices and systems where malfunction could endanger large numbers of people… And Everybody knows that in the Superheroes films & TV Programs that everything was about to blow in minutes & seconds left & the people are running for their lives and most of all, Every villian was always vaporized & Every Hero will always endure. That’s all I can tell you.” 

We closed by discussing, “What are your current creative projects?” 

• Gary: Clip art, printing, tracing, editing, and making them into a coloring-page format to color on Microsoft Paint. 
• Margie: Drawing flowers with gel pens. Coloring in my coloring book and sketchbook. Using stickers. 
• Iragi: Masterpieces of faces. 
• Louis: Using Microsoft Paint to “make everything I want.” 

In conjunction with Make Studio’s Autism Acceptance Month online gallery, we’re highlighting some partnering entities who, if 2020 gave us a *typical* April, would have joined us for an in-person gallery event. Our last post featured the Hussman Center for Adults with Autism. Today, we’re featuring Taking the Lead, an organization that also shares our goals of centering supports for people with autism and other disabilities on strengths, and providing customized training to build lasting careers.

Some of TTL’s vocational participants were planning to demonstrate their dog training skills at our event and, although we’re disappointed that couldn’t happen this spring, we’re pleased to (re)introduce you to TTL in the virtual realm.

(You might recall that the Partyman himself made a visit to the TTL Timberbrook farm last fall, to serve as unofficial Ringmaster at their circus-themed participant showcase!)

Taking the Lead provides an array of services and experiences including therapeutic horseback riding, hippotherapy, service animal training, animal adoption, a nature and sensory trail, and the aforementioned vocational program, all on their beautiful 80 acre farm in Baltimore County. 

 

Their inclusive vocational program provides folks aged 13 and up with the skills they need to gain meaningful employment in animal-related industries. Participants explore jobs and learn functional skills for employment on a real working farm with live animals, rather than in a classroom setting. Their program is unique in that an occupational therapist identifies the specific needs of each participant and breaks down their individual objectives into achievable short- and long-term goals, and the curriculum is customized based on the individual participant’s interests: “Levels of training range from pre-vocational life skills to an advanced program with an internship component to meet each student where they are and help them be as independent as possible on their journey to employment.”

We’re pleased to share this farm status report, about how they are faring as a nonprofit during this time of COVID-19, from TTL’s founder and COO, Chelsea:

I have had to suspend programs, but I will be doing virtual storytelling programs with the farm animals. Additionally, I am raising broad breasted and heritage breed turkeys to sell pasture raised turkeys. People can follow them on our Facebook page!

Stay tuned, as we hope to soon share a “life drawing with animals” virtual farm field trip that we’ll be offering online with TTL, that all are welcome to take part in. Perhaps you’ll see some of these animals amongst the life models!

 

We hope you’ve been able to join us throughout this Autism Acceptance Month as we’ve translated some of our planned events online! If you missed anything, you can easily access all our special content, as well as other information and resources, on our Making it Work During COVID-19 portal.

by Rosie Eck

Among us, we have the King of Video Games, the Empress of Baby Goats, the Ruler of Meadows, the King of Drums, and two Rulers of Nature.

This host of royalty comprises the Art Class at the Hussman Center for Adults with Autism. Each week, participants meet to explore creativity and communication by creating art together.

In conjunction with Make Studio’s Autism Acceptance Month online gallery, some Hussman art program participants opted to share their work and words here on Make Studio’s blog. In a recent art class (currently meeting virtually, similar to Make Studio’s virtual studio), we gave ourselves royal titles, made crowns, and made decrees over our domains.

E., The Ruler of Video Games, pronounced that all players should create characters and play games to 100% completion. His crown sports a game character that waves off the top of the crown like a quail feather.

J.’s crown is a celebration of Spring. “I get excited when I look at animals and my favorite bird, the bluejay.” J. was video chatting into class from a porch swing in her yard.

“I sent the crown to some of my family members and my mom too! They like the shading and the dark colors!” -J., Ruler of Nature

Another week, artists worked on collages that depicted their pet peeves and how they respond to those peeves. In her collage, G. surrounds her nightmares and uncertainties with things she loves: a gem, flowers, horse riding. 

“I was having nightmares about not going to town. I can’t see my friends or ride horses or go to synagogue.” -G., Ruler of Meadows

Her visual charting of her thoughts makes physical and visible the things that bring her joy. This lets others also take part in that joy.

Make Studio and the Hussman Center have partnered together in the past because both make it their mission to support connection and empowerment through art. It’s not surprising that there have been both artists and staff, like me, who participate in programming at both places. (In addition, in 2019 and in years prior, Hussman Program Manager Zosia Zaks has presented about employment at our Autism Acceptance Month events.)

Our in-person events for April have sadly been cancelled, but stay tuned for a few more AA Month features from Make Studio, now through next week!

Rosie Eck is the Program & Exhibitions Associate at Make Studio and the Art Instructor at the Hussman Center for Adults with Autism. She is also the Empress of Baby Goats.

(prepared by Beth Grasso, Make Studio intern)

April is an important month at Make Studio because many of our artists identify as persons with autism/autistic persons/as being “on the spectrum”. Along with many others who celebrate autism awareness and/or acceptance,  we take the month of April to focus on spreading acceptance and amplifying the voices of our impacted artists. 

(You can view our online version of our annual Autism Acceptance Month exhibition here.)

Artist Zach Manuel has often created art that shares his experiences and thoughts about being an autistic artist. This year, he created this piece to mark the beginning of April.

My message is that we are not defined by culture, upbringing, race, heredity, or psychological disability. The only thing that matters is what we make of ourselves.

– Zach

(You can see an example of Zach’s creative process in his blog post here, reflecting his interest in exploring and narratively combining aspects of different cultures that he admires, while simultaneously addressing social issues he cares about.)

Artist Jules Hinmon shared similar sentiments about autism, saying:

Autism is an attribute, not a weakness. It doesn’t determine how you turn out. Only you can do that.

– Jules

Bess Lumsden, an artist and self advocate who does a lot of art and cosplay reflecting Japanese styles and culture, is always vocal on behalf of herself and others in the disability community.

You don’t need to fix us, we’re fine, you just need to talk to us and listen!

– Bess

Artist Malcolm Slade broadly concurs with his studio colleagues…

It’s a difference, not a mistake.

– Malcolm

…as does Tyrone Weedon:

Autism is just a learning process for people with disability, and it came from a different degree some times it can be slow and sometimes it can be faster, as long as you have a big support system as well as your friends and family, they can handle thing from the outside independently. Just help them.

– Tyrone

Gary Schmedes, who has often related his experience of having autism to his preference for routines and co-creating a productive and safe workplace with his fellow artists, sent us this drawing he made while working at home during this time of social distancing:

Gary reminds us that we all miss the things we are familiar with during this time of quarantine and that we will be excited to be able to meet again in person. In the meantime, we are glad that we have opportunities to continue to build digital communities and support each other. 

– Beth Grasso

In addition to having an opening reception and party for TEN, this year’s anniversary exhibition, our artists are acknowledging the milestone of an entire decade of Make Studio in a BIG way! They are putting on their first fashion show, fittingly titled “Make it Work”.

Thirty-two individual looks, designed by the artists and modeled by them and volunteers, will be taking to our rainbow runway at 5:00PM on February 22 in our Schwing Showroom Gallery.

To prepare for the runway, the artists have spent the past few months designing and crafting clothing, accessory, and wearable items (with considerable look-tracking and wrangling overseen by staffer Terri Ball), have completed workshops in the studio and at MICA’s Fiber Arts department (coordinated by MICA community fellow Laurel Stewart), and have perfected their model walks.

The artists applied a wide array of inspirations to their looks, and each is going for a different impact on their audience. For example:

Louis, about his scenic robe: “I like landscapes because they take me everywhere.”

Malcolm: “I chose an apron because they are useful for working in the kitchen. I like aprons!”

Dasha: “A crazy cat lady in training, a young artsy girl who likes to crochet and be the talk of the town.”

Gary: “It isn’t often you see a cartoon walrus.”

Bess: “I wanted to show a little bit creepy and goth.” (Of course!)

Chuck: “I stitched the rope to make a neckline, and added some heart shape leopard print fabric and did some other things to it, it is pretty cool.”

Click through our slideshow, below, to get a sense of all their hard work and a sneak peek of what you’ll see during the show! 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

by Tyrone Weedon

On my left is East North Avenue and that is where I live.  This  is my home, me and my family have lived in this household for the past decades until my four sisters moved out and have a place of their own to start a family years later. 

 

It has been through good times and bad times since losing my mother, but my family were always close and we have that special bond that has never been broken.  Now, I am a grown up living in this household by myself…But, not always.

To my right is Greenmount and North Ave, it is very gritty and urban.  A lot of craziness down here in this neighborhood, the traffic, the bar hangouts, the drugs, the knuckleheads, the cruel people, the incidents in these past years, and the struggles about making a living and hustling every day to make money.

Despite all the stress out here in the ‘hood in between, but there is always a beauty out there in the streets.  I always imagine about escaping  the ‘hood and go somewhere that is peaceful out there, but I had to learn to overcome my fears first. 

I like going places where it’s less stressful and less noisy.  I love going to the library, bookstores, comic shops, movies, art classes and places that I never went before.  I want to go to the park and take in a nice walk and look around and see the wonderful trees growing beautiful.  I like sitting at the bottom of the tree to stay in the shade and sketch everything I see in the park, and what is going through my mind.  I want to sit down on the grass with a towel and meditate my mind and listen to my surroundings.  I like to sit on the bench and think about life and my future, I dream about riding a bicycle in the park. 

One day, I wished about having a good women, getting married and starting a family so I can play catch with my son.  Maybe someday in the future, but right now, I have got a lot to learn and a long way to go as far as maturity and responsibility, but I am doing everything the best I can for me, my family, my friends, my support system and most importantly in heaven… FOR MY MOTHER AND GOD.

 

Emmy nominations were just announced, and it just so happens that artists Chuck and Iragi were recently recognized for their achievements, outside of Make Studio, by the Maryland Association of Community Services. They wanted to share their awards with us and with all of you!

Chuck

I won the Achievement Award from the Department of Disability Services. I won the award because I advocated for myself with living arrangements and self-care.

I plan on hanging my award at the ARC office where everyone can see it. It is always important to ask for what you want and do not be shy.

 

Iragi

I got the award in May. It is the Maryland Association of Community Service Award. I won for being an unstoppable worker at Shoppers, even McDonalds, Irvine Nature Center, Petco, and finally Maryland Public Television.

I clean and raise all the items. I enjoy my work and am still at Shoppers.

I was chosen by the organization for the award. I had never won an award before I got this one on May 23rd. It made me feel really happy to win.

 

Congratulations to Chuck, Iragi, and all the other award winners!