Autism Services' Arts Work exhibition closes soon

Executive director of Autism Services, Inc. (ASI) Veronica Federiconi and teaching artist Todd Lesmeister visited the Burchfield Penney Art Center this winter to speak to docents about autism and the artists featured in the current Community Gallery exhibition.

Todd provided many stories about the artists and the studio on Hertel Avenue. “One size does not fit all,” he reiterated while reflecting on the discoveries he has made as an instructor. His primary job is making sure that each person receives individual attention and that s/he has the right materials and environment to work. Todd stressed that repetition is a large part of the artists’ processes. He also shared that many of the artists do not have judgment of or attachment to works that other artists do.

Veronica, who has worked in the field for more than forty years, provided essential information about the neurological disorder. Most people on the spectrum are diagnosed early in life. They may experience difficulty in communication, socialization, cognition and sensory processing. According to statistics from last year, 1 in 88 children have autism, and boys are five times more likely than girls to have autism. In America, there are 1.5 million people on the spectrum. The emphasis throughout the presentation was that people with autism are more similar than different than us.

ASI seeks to provide a comfortable environment to support autism. The organization has no intention of ridding people of the disorder. Instead, they wish to celebrate the uniqueness of each person and develop services for adults in the arts. Importantly, the art program is not based on art therapy. “They don’t need another therapy…we are not setting boundaries or mandated to document milestones,” Veronica explained. She shared that the Arts Work program and exhibitions gives families something they never had before: the chance to view their children’s work and see how appreciative the community is of this talent.

You can see work by the artists of the Arts Work Program at the Burchfield Penney until March 24. Join us on March 7 at 5:30 for an open studio demonstration with Ben B.

— Alana Ryder

Email Alana at ryderah@buffalostate.edu

Alana Ryder
Alana Ryder, Curator for Public & Academic Programs, curates the Community Gallery, leads the museum’s college student group and has organized a number of M&T Second Friday, music and community programs. Ryder was part of the four-time award-winning website redesign team. She earned her B.A. in the history of art from the University of California, Berkeley and recently completed her M.A. at Buffalo State College.