What's in a Signature Part II

Jimmy presenting his painting "Girl from Egypt" in
May 2013 at the Owatonna Center for the Arts 

As many of know, verbal language is a challenge for Jimmy on a daily basis.  Jimmy’s emergence as an artist began with illness.  In May of 2013, Jimmy presented his art to a large group at the Owatonna Center for the Arts.  After the presentation, a woman asked me if I thought we would have discovered Jimmy’s love of art if he hadn’t gotten sick.  I didn’t have to think for very long as I answered, “no, I don’t think that we would have found art for him.” Until Jimmy was in 6^th grade, I always imagined him in college.  He was smart.  He had a great memory….sure, he’d need supports…but, I never gave up the idea of college for him until his health so severely eroded and the words he had gained slipped away… only then, I gave up my dream for him.  I discouraged school staff from mainstreaming Jimmy for classes like art and music even though he enjoyed both. Many kids with special needs are only mainstreamed for classes that I would consider to have had less “meat” than reading,  math, science and social studies. I didn’t want him shuffled into these classes as it signified for me, I’d given up on him. 

Jimmy at Good Purpose Gallery in Lee, MA with his paintings
"Goodbye Ron",
"Girl in the Forrest", "Elizabeth" and "Jim" 

In many school settings, kids with special needs get placed into art and music classes for mainstreaming.  Jimmy was great at social studies and science.  He could read well. So, I was not hot on Jimmy being in art class as a means of mainstreaming…..where would this get him in the future??? Jimmy was mainstreamed for many classes that I felt had "meat".  So, he had less time for art and music.  Although, he did take them.  Instead of choir class, Jimmy played baritone in the middle school band...a first for the middle school and he was good at it. It was only when he got sick and we were trying to find a way to engage him that we discovered his true love of and motivation for art.  He loves learning about artists.  He spends hours during the week reading about artists.  I print articles and he loves reading about famous artists …seems to never get old for him.  I don't regret not learned about his art aptitude until he was older as he learned many valuable skills in the mainstream classes that he took.  It helped us to learn how he learned when he felt well.

"Mad Cat" 11"x14" Oil Pastel on Paper, 2013 inspired
by Dutch Expressionists

In 2008 as Jimmy’s health improved, his artwork provided a voice for him.  Those who saw his artwork began to see him differently and see potential.  His artwork was certainly a catalyst for improving his sense of self and wellbeing. 

Jimmy works hard to communicate to us how he feels.  I have often referred to him as the blade of grass that grows through the tar…come hell or high water, he will make his point. When he was about 5, he taught himself sign language over the course of a weekend after my daughter brought a sign language book home from school.  Verbal language was illusive to him at that time.  We all learned how to sign the alphabet and used this for several years with Jimmy. …it was concrete, visual and made sense to him. He taught us how to best communicate with him at the time. We still occasionally use signing to lead him to verbalize. 

Jimmy’s art continues to be his voice for us as a family.  His art speaks volumes to us as it often helps to tell us how he feels.  Over the last several months, his sketchbook has shown panic, rash work lacking detail and the quality we’ve grown to know. Although he still is producing very interesting works, it isn’t at the same pace that it had been.  He recently produced a very interesting piece called, “Face.”  He created this piece from a close up black and

"Face" 11"x14" Oil Pastel on Paper, 2013

white photo of a face.  He outlined the light and dark parts of the face on the photo with a pen and translated what he saw to paper with oil pastel and loads of color. This is a technique that he often uses.  When I posted the piece on Facebook.  I was stunned at what people saw in the piece….one elephant, two elephants, one face, two faces, a fish and a dog.  It is a very interesting piece.  Last week, he had to sign several new pieces before I had them scanned.  Since early May, we have been back and forth with doctors as he’s been losing weight, not sleeping, vomiting and complaining of stomach pain. He was struggling the day I asked him to sign his works. So, I shouldn't have been surprised when he signed “Face” upside down in yellow.  The upside down yellow signature was barely visible. Then he took an oil pastel and covering up the yellow signature….I said, “hey, Jim your name is upside down.  With intent, he took a darker color and signed upside down again in the same place.  He looked at me and said, “sick.” Clearly, he was making a point with me…he must feel upside down….”sick.” 

After being scoped last week, we can confirm his pain and illness.  Resolution of his conditions are another story.  But, we are on the complicated path to reduce his pain and put him back on strong footing.

"Girl from Egypt" Jimmy's work
will be
included in a
special installation
at the Northern Trust Collectors Lounge
 (or other location tbd)
at EXPO CHGO,
September 19th through the 22nd
on Navy Pier. 

So, what’s in a signature for Jimmy?  His signature tells us who he is and now how he feels.

Jimmy Reagan is a Northern Trust Featured Artist at the EXPO CHGO September 19th - 22nd. Jimmy's work will be included in a special installation at the Northern Trust Collectors Lounge (or other location tbd) at EXPO CHGO, September 19th through the 22nd on Navy Pier. www.expochicago.com 
.....not sure what we will send? 

Check out the video for Art Week- will be a fabulous week of fun in September! http://expochicago.com/expo-art-week .  

Here are some pieces that are in the running for the expo: 

Two Guys - 24"x30"
 Acrylic on Canvas 2013 

Girl from France - 24"x30"
Acrylic on Canvas 2013

Johnny Bravo Self Portrait
24"x30" Acrylic on Canvas 2013

Girl from Egypt
Acrylic on Canvas 2012

Goodbye Ron
24"x30" Acrylic on Canvas 2012

     

Man with Sad Face
24"x30" Acrylic on Canvas 2012

What's in a Signature?

Bobiam Gallery Uptown Minneapolis
Minnesota - Exhibition April 2013

On Sunday April 7^th, 2013 Bobiam Gallery in Minneapolis hosted a reception for Jimmy.  He is exhibiting at the gallery for the month of April. Several years ago, Jimmy was invited to be one of Bobiam’s first T-Shirt artists.  Last fall, Bill Farrell from Bobiam asked if Jimmy would consider an exhibition in their Minneapolis Gallery. 

Bobiam - 2nd floor Lagoon and Hennepin
Minneapolis, Minnesota 

We agreed and decided that April would be the right time.  I didn’t think about it until later that April is Autism Awareness month and April 2^nd is designated by the United Nations as World Autism Day. So, April is a good month for Jimmy to show his work.  

Goodbye Ron - on exhibition
at the Good Purpose Gallery
Lee, MA April and May 2013

He is also exhibiting in Lee Massachusetts in April and May at the Good Purpose Gallery and will have his painting Maggie Live Auctioned on April 28^th to raise money for the University of St Thomas Scholarship fund.

 

The Bobiam reception was attended by a nice sized crowd….some folks I knew and many that I did not.  Jimmy’s speech pathologist from elementary school was in attendance.  She is a very skilled and open minded woman whom I’ve always respected.  She worked with Jimmy when we were full of hope that he would recover his language.  She walked through the Gallery surprised and enjoying Jimmy’s work.  She and I were talking in front of one of his paintings and she remarked “look at his signature.  It’s the same as

it was when I worked with him.”  She paused in thought…..what are we teaching? She and I remember regular discussions with school staff about the importance of using upper and lower case letters….working on cursive….does it really matter? No, it doesn’t. Was making sure that Jimmy capitalized letters properly or learned cursive helping him to communicate?  The question might be where should we focus our time and spend our resources? What tools should measure success?  What goals are important? What will create future value?

Man with Pipe - signature on face

Dad signature in the eye

Jimmy’s signature in his artwork is unique in the color he signs in and the locations where he signs…..To those of us in the mainstream, his signature is present in very curious locations like in the eye of a subject as in his piece titled Dad  or on the face as in Man with Pipe or in a vase of flowers as in 

Dr Barnes - can you see the
signature in the flowers?

Dr. Barnes.  To Jimmy, these locations make perfect sense. To many of the rest of us…..shouldn’t it be in the lower right or left corners? Isn’t that what we were taught? 

Last year, I received a call from a man who had attended WineFest, the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital event where Jimmy had been the Featured Artist.  This fellow runs a division of a large national company in the Twins Cities. When he called, he told me that he was driving to work one day and saw the WineFest billboard that had Jimmy’s painting Café at Night on it.

Cafe at Night - University of Minnesota
Amplatz Children's Hopsital
WineFest No 17
Featured Artist

He noted the artwork and wanted to know who the artist was…..he loved the painting. So, he googled WineFest to see the painting in full view.  He thought….now that is an interesting signature?????It looks so different….perhaps, child like yet the painting is so sophisticated and full of vibrant color.  So, he googled Jimmy……and learned about the artist.  He attended WineFest and was struck by both Jimmy’s artwork and his challenges.  It was the art and Jimmy’s unique signature that attracted this man’s attention.  This experience had

Jimmy Reagan on the roof top of Seven
restaurant in Downtown Minneapolis
with one of his billboards.

such a profound impact on this man that he asked me to come and talk with some of his employees.  It opened his eyes to something totally unexpected and valuable. 

So….what’s in a signature?  Changing minds and attitudes? I hope so. What does Jimmy’s signature say about him? Who he is?  He is an artist? He doesn’t see life in a conventional way and that’s okay……in fact, it’s beautiful and valuable.

Jimmy Reagan with Target Corp employees
at Sunfish Cellars for Jimmy's Erik's Minnesota
Adventures tour.
Coloring contest winner selection

Jimmy’s artwork with his unique signature has raised over $25,000 this year for organizations in the Twins Cities.

What’s in your signature? 

www.bobiam.com

http://www.bvpac.org/good-purpose-gallery/

www.thewinefest.org

www.eriksranch.org 

What Speaks to You

Goodbye Ron -24"x30" Acrylic on Canvas 2012
This painting will be on display in Lee, MA from
April 5th to May 26th at the Good Purpose Gallery

I love the Pier One commercial where the woman walks through the store and different items in the store talk to her.  Of course, no one else can hear what is speaking to her. Yet, she finds simple joy from the experience and surprise at finding what speaks to hear.   This made me think about what speaks to me and how this commercial illustrates something bigger.

For those managing autism, using the word “speaks” can be frightening - since by definition autism is a communication disorder.  To some extent, all of us struggle to speak, communicate and find our voice.   Perhaps, we should think of this less as a deficiency and more of a wonderful lifelong challenge in efforts to learn, grow and experience life to our fullest capacity.  

Girl from Egypt - 24"x30" Acrylic on Canvas 2012

I was recently reminded that we all start as a blank slate not knowing what speaks to us except the cuddles and comfort of those that care for us in our newborn helpless state. Our dear friend Jaci gave birth to twin girls last week.  Jaci cared for our five kids and worked with Jimmy for many years.   Before the babies were born last week, Jaci sent me a text hoping that “ the girls would pack their bags and come home”.  I chuckled understanding that a full term pregnant mom with twins will be happy to deliver her babies and be able to tie her own shoes again.  I reminded her that the girls won’t be bringing bags…they’ll show up naked, without money, instruction book or means to shares their needs and desires.…they are a clean slate full love for those that gave them life.  As humans, we develop our voice over time and our voice is influenced by many experiences. We learn what speaks to us as we become exposed to the world and develop a taste for life.  We learn what speaks to us with the help of those around us.

Elizabeth diptych with Jim - 16"x20"
Acryllc on Canvas 2012
Will be on display in Lee MA
at the
Good Purpose Gallery from
 April 5th through
May 26th, 2013

Jim diptych with Elizabeth- 16"x20"
Acrylic on Canvas 2012
Will be on display in Lee MA
at the
Good Purpose Gallery from
 April 5th through
May 26th, 2013

For people with autism, finding words and speaking is a challenge. But, that doesn’t mean that finding what speaks to them doesn’t or won’t happen. People frequently ask me how I found Jimmy’s love/talent for art? I didn’t.  He did.  All I did was be open to the suggestion of someone else. Jimmy’s tutor, Pat Pendelton asked, “I have a friend who is an artist and is interested in kids with autism, would you be open to her working with Jimmy.”  My response, “sure.” Why not? Boy, that was hard. I truly believe, that sometimes, solutions/opportunities are simple and in plane sight.

I am grateful that Jimmy is pursuing something he clearly loves and finds motivating.  I have often thought, what happens if he decides that he doesn’t want to produce art any more? What will he do? How will he feel? How will I feel? Art has given him opportunities that are truly meaningful in so many ways and it is a big part of our lives these days. Well, I’m not going to panic cause that could happen and I have no control over Jimmy’s desire to create art no more than I have control over my other kids choices. So, I will do my best to expose him to new things that he might find interesting that captures his attention. I try to do the same thing for myself in order to keep motivated…try new things, be open and grow.

Girl in India - 16"x20" Acrylic on Canvas 2013

I hoped for many years that Jimmy would be “normal.” I have changed my thoughts on the word “normal.”  Normal as defined by Webster “conforming to the standard or the common type”.  Hummm….that doesn’t sound too interesting does it? Conforming to a standard. Maybe normal is actually boredom and lack of interest.  Perhaps, life might be more dynamic than “normal” full of color, challenge and change.  Normal might also mean complacent. So, I’ve decided that “normal” isn’t a way I’d like Jimmy or any of my kids defined. I have hope for lives full of dynamic color, challenge and change.

Pretty Girl in Orange Dress and Pearls - 24"x36"
Acrylic on Canvas 2013
Donated to the Visitation Merrie Market for Live Auction

Maggie - 16:x20" Acrylic on Canvas 2012
Donated to the University of St. Thomas 10th Anniversary
Parent Network Scholarship Fundraiser fro Live Auction 

Brian’s grandmother died shy of 105^th birthday.  I adored her. She lost her hearing at age 10 – a genetic degenerative disorder.  She graduated from Berkley in 1924 and received a Master in Anthropology at the U of MN.  There were no hearing aids then.  She learned to read lips and read voraciously.  In college, she clasped a rubber paddle in her mouth during class to help her eardrums vibrate so she could pick up a few words. She never complained about losing her hearing….it didn’t define who she was although it was a part of who she was.  In her late 90’s, she asked me to buy periodicals which described computers and new technology.  I was somewhat surprised.  She said, “ I have to read about mega bits and other things related to computers so I can do my cross word puzzles.” I thought amazing….life long learning. She was mentally engage until she was about 102 when she lost much of her eyesight affecting her ability to read text and faces.  She was very connected to Jimmy and his struggles to communicate.  She worried that Jimmy’s autism was related to her genetic hearing loss.  I regularly assured her that I didn’t believe there was a connection. I see Jimmy much the way I viewed her.  She was able to find ways to cope and over come her disability living a long, full and vibrant life.  While Jimmy needs others to place opportunities in front of him, Jimmy is the one who makes the choices of what speaks to him….only he really knows.

So, finding “What Speaks to You”, can be a wonderful life long mission full of color, challenge and adventure!