Monday 16 May 2011

Wings.

Wings.

Wings and Silence. I was asked recently by an American Student who has Autism to explain some of my work to her for a school project she did on Autism and Art. Once I begun to explain my thinking in my work in relation to the world of Autism we live in, I realised just how many of my works relate to Mikey and I and Autism. Some pieces on a subconscious level at the point of creation.

      This picture I did in a photo editing software program not long after Mikey was diagnosed as having Autism. I was deeply sad at the time and trying to understand what we were facing. I had no idea what was to come in the years that followed. Everyone I talked to, every book I read was all about inability, disability, difficulty. It made me feel horrible beyond description. My precious child was taken away from me by one word, Autism. So alone in his world of inability..so I gave him wings.

      Everything I learned about Autism spoke of isloation, and can't do's. Mikey is the free spirit we all long to be, somewhere deep inside! When everything around him was dark he glowed, when the other children around him played with toys, Mikey played with shafts of light through his fingers, subtle shadows and textures around him that no one else noticed. Autism took the child I thought I had away and replaced him with a child so unique and magical. Creating this image brought me out of a dark time of acceptance and grief. Like a beam of light changing from cold to warmth.



Samantha, I was knocked for six when I saw this image. It is so very tender and loving yet so powerful at the same time. Only a loving mum could have done that. Phew! makes me well up inside.






8 comments:

John Salmon said...
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mavis said...

Dear Samantha, This picture of Mikey with Wings sits on my desk where I can marvel at it every day. It has been special and magical to me since you first created it, my grandson who lives with the Angels. But reading your beautiful and heart-rending words about your struggle with his autism and finding a new vision and higher level of understanding through the spiritual light of this picture fills my soul with awe, my eyes with tears, and my heart with love.

Icestorm said...
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Icestorm said...

Can't wait to read more and more of your posts! What an awesome, uplifting viewpoint... as awesome as the Mommy Mikey has :-)

whosnuts said...

Wow, our boys are the same age - every day is a gift. Keep us posted.

Samantha Anne Hutchinson said...

Thank you for the comments and compliments!
Mikey is 11 years old now. This is a new blog and venture so I thought I would begin with the very first image I created related to Autism. Many more adventures to come.....

Michele said...

Dear Samantha ,

I would just like to say your blogg made me laugh and cry .

My life & my familys is enriched for knowing you guys .

Love always to a special Mommy and a very special son .

Samantha Anne Hutchinson said...

Aw Michele, without you and your family I wouldn't have any kind of life, I owe you much, simple thank you would never do!