The Art of Autism is pleased to announce MozArt@OMA Southern California art participants. The exhibit at Oceanside Museum of Art is April 10 – April 26, 2020.
Partners in events are the Mainly Mozart nonprofit, The Art of Autism and The Oceanside Museum of Art.
ALEX NICHOLS
Alex Nichols is a freestyle weaver who follows the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which represents embracing imperfection. Using a Saori loom and various hand weaving techniques, Alex creates wild and free wall hangings mixing textures and vibrant colors using yarn and unconventional materials such as strips of fabric from clothing like Aloha shirts, wire ribbon, jewelry, and toys. Alex is an artist with special needs who expresses himself through weaving and painting.
Website: https://lnichols9.wixsite.com/website
AUSTIN JOHN JONES
Austin John Jones has been an aspiring artist ever since he was 5 years old, drawing all the time in the classroom. Very early on he went under the mentorship of French painter Sophie Plassard, where he learned under her tutoring for 12 years doing mostly drawing and painting. Because of this, Austin has a great amount of experience in oil painting. After graduating high school, Austin went to Art Center College of Design where he graduated with a degree in illustration and a minor in entertainment art. Austin loves cartoons, movies, video games, and almost everything entertainment. He has been a dedicated artist all his life, and has been teaching what he has learned to people of all ages ever since he graduated college. Austin graduated from the Teaching Artist Institute and has shown his work locally in San Diego County for the last five years.
Website: http://www.austinjohnjones.com/index.html
CARISSA PACCERELLI
Los Angeles based Carissa Paccerelli is an award-winning artist who has always had a proclivity to express herself through art. Growing up, she found she could overcome her speaking challenges by taking a pencil to paper and drawing. Art in its many forms helped her express her feelings in a multitude of colors and emotions of characters. Carissa, who has been taking art commissions since 1st grade, had her first solo art exhibit in Pasadena, California at the age of 15. She has received a wide variety of awards and recognition for her artwork and have been seen in numerous exhibits, fairs, and festivals in Canada and the United States (Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Brooklyn, Seattle, Chicago, Oakland, San Francisco, Riverside, San Diego, and Washington, D.C.) Carissa recently graduated from high school and was awarded the Pasadena Educational Foundation’s Norman Schmidt Visual Arts Scholarship.
Website: www.carissaspage.com
DANE CAPO
Dane Capo is a 24-year old native Californian. Dane primarily grew up in the beach culture of Hermosa Beach. Dane’s challenges began when he was diagnosed with epilepsy at 10 months old and were compounded when he was found to have autism at age five. He began his education in Hermosa Beach Schools but his father’s career took the Capo family all over the world. Consequently, Dane’s schooling included classrooms in Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Dane first started painting when he was studying art history and the Great Masters with one of his homeschool teachers, Amanda. Dane was quickly inspired to try and paint his own version of Matisse’s self portrait and the results were extraordinary. Today, after numerous art shows, media coverage, exhibits, meeting Ringo Starr and sharing his art, selling a painting to The Schwab Family, Dane continues to create more of his own Masterpieces. When not Painting Dane enjoys shopping, gardening and wandering around Los Angeles.
Website: www.danecapo.com
IKEA “SYANCE” WILSON
“I am Ikea “Syance” Wilson and I was born on September 1, 1993. I’ve wanted to become a professional/ famous artist and musician the majority of my life. This dream began to come true as soon as I attended California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) in 2012. Throughout college, I have been able to participate in various activities including hosting my own art show and playing the piano at Ebenezer Baptist Church and Disciples of Christ Ministry. Also, after I graduated from CSUB in spring 2016, I decided to attend Inclusion Films in Bakersfield the following semester. Ever since I began going there, I have been commissioned to do various drawings for both staff and my classmates. Finally, I was able to work behind the scenes during the preproduction and postproduction of several of our thesis films by assisting with art department, grip and electric (lighting) and editing.”
Syance has created her own art style called Randomosity which makes fun of random objects. See more here.
JEREMY SICILE-KIRA
San Diego-based intuitive artist Jeremy Sicile-Kira is a synesthete – he sees emotion in color. In 2012, Jeremy (who is autistic and communicates by typing) began to tell others about his dreams: dreams that he was painting the emotions of people into colorful abstract portraits. One night he dreamt that he painted ten of his paintings and had an art show. Jeremy was encouraged by his mother to make this dream come true, and began to paint in real life. In 2016 his first curated solo art show was covered by national and local media, resulting in a sold-out show and many private commissions. Awards include: 2016 ART San Diego Spotlight Artist; RMG’s 2016 Platform Artist of the Year, Finalist. Jeremy currently meets clients in his studio in San Diego, or via Facetime or skype. Advocacy for others like Jeremy who have no voice is an important part of his life. Jeremy co-authored a book A Full Life with Autism (Macmillan) and served as a Youth Representative to the United Nations for the Autism Research Institute (NGO); as a youth leader for the Autistic Global Initiative, and as a youth advisor to the California Employment Consortium for Youth (CECY). Now, Jeremy gives presentations at conferences and at local schools to inspire others.
Website: www.jeremysvision.com
JOEL ANDERSON
Artist, author, international speaker and philanthropist who is known as The Artist of Smiles from Fallbrook, California, Joel Anderson creates his art in acrylic, mixed media, digital media, animation, and video production. Joel’s heart is to bring a smile to everyone who sees his artwork and video productions. As a sought after keynote speaker, Joel is an international artist and ambassador with autism who has spoken in Peru, China2X, Canada, and across the United States. One of Joel’s favorite projects was being hired to create his animation “How Germs Spread” now used across Africa to encourage safe water habits. Proceeds from art sales support “Smile Bags” which he created to fill backpacks with arts supplies that Joel gives to children on his journeys and with the foundations he supports. Joel’s art has been featured at The California Museum in Sacramento; H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural & Art Museum in Covina; The Soho Gallery for Digital Art in NYC; The Art Works in Washington DC; The Rancho Sante Fe Art Gallery and recently at the National Art Center in Tokyo for the 19TH Japan International Art Exchange Exhibition and Competition. Joel’s synesthesia is seeing colors as attributes.
website: www.joelsvisionarts.com
KEVIN HOSSEINI
Kevin Hosseini, now residing in El Cajon, has been creating works of art since he was 9 years old. He was introduced to art by his therapist Colin Zimbleman through the UCSB Koegel Autism Center as a means of social communication. Kevin is influenced by many artists including Van Gogh, Gauguin, Hopper, and Bellows. He loves textured art with lots of movement. Kevin sold his first art painting at age 11 and has gone on to win many awards including a VSA emerging artist award. Kevin’s art has been on display in many museums and galleries including the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, the Museum of Modern Art of the Ukraine in Kiev, the California Museum in Sacramento, the Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural Museum in Covina and the Smithsonian S. Dillon Ripley Center in Washington D.C. Kevin’s art has been featured on book covers, CD labels, and in magazine and newspaper articles. Art helps Kevin bridge communication issues and allows him a creative outlet.
Website: www.kevingallery.com
NICHOLAS KONTAXIS
Contemporary artist Nicholas Kontaxis creates large-scale abstract paintings, characterized by a riot of primary colors.
In the last three years, Kontaxis’ work has taken the American art scene by storm. His complex pieces, utilizing heavy body acrylic paints and a battalion of pallet knives on massive canvases, have anchored a slew of successful solo exhibitions, in Los Angeles, Sun Valley, Palm Springs, Chicago, and most recently in London, England. Kontaxis has been commissioned by the likes of Adidas and the Los Angeles Chargers, while attracting collectors such as Roger Federer and Eric Schmidt.
Website: www.nicholaskontaxis.com
PARKER C. FRANCO
Parker was born in Oceanside in 1994. Just before his 3rd birthday he was diagnosed with mild to moderate autism. After overcoming medical challenges, including multiple brain tumors, his interest developed in animation and film. He attended the San Marcos Unified School District Special Education Program (SMUSD). During his years at Mission Hills High School, he developed a love of art and excelled in regular education classes with his chronological peers. After leaving Mission Hills in 2013, he moved onto the SMUSD Adult Transition Program. Parker attended art classes at Palomar College. As he became more independent, he travelled there by bus using the public transportation system. It was there that Parker met a mentor, Professor Douglas Durrant. Professor Durrant, then near his retirement, took a special interest in and helped Parker realize his skills. Before Professor Durrant passed on in 2015, he inspired Parker to “live as an artist” by drawing and painting every day.
In 2016, after attending several camps, Parker was accepted at the College Internship Program (CIP) in Long Beach, California. Parker learned skills of independent living and continued studying art and film. He even sold some of his paintings and was a featured artist for CIP’s National Calendar. He started an art studio at CIP. This resulted in a front page story about CIP and his artwork in the Long Beach Telegram during 2017. Parker has visited film studios in Los Angeles as he and his friends have learned to use the public transportation system. During school breaks, he has participated in programs at Oceanside Museum of Art where he is a member. Parker anticipates receiving a Certificate in Art and Film from Long Beach City College by the Summer of 2020. Parker is now 25 years old, plans to return home and looks forward to living as an artist as he pursues his dreams.
SYDNEY EDMOND
Sydney Edmond is a 26 year old artist who has autism and movement challenges. She was unable to communicate until the age of ten when she learned how to point to letters and express her thoughts. It requires a communication partner to keep her on track and calm. It was this same support that allowed her to begin painting eleven years later. Sydney has exhibited in galleries, libraries, art shows and wineries mainly in Temecula, CA. She has also exhibited in Riverside, CA and has contributed works to benefit the Riverside Art Museum and the Autism Society Inland Empire. Sydney is also a gifted poet.
“My paintings
Like my poetry
Pour
Out
Like a prison escape.
What you see
Exclamations of great joy!
I paint
And my soul colors the canvas.
A wave of happiness washes over me
And I hope
Those who view my work”