art competition

Wings of Love:  Excerpts of Tyler’s Story:

I have autism! So it’s hard for me to use words or express my feelings. When I was younger, I used colors to describe how I felt. I would tell my mom my “head was turning green” whenever I felt angry or totally overwhelmed. So my mother would hug or rock me until I calmed down and felt the color blue.

I’m also afraid that others will look at me differently. But if they could see what is in my heart, they would see a real human being. Not an outcast or a kid to dislike.

One of my teachers said that I would never learn how to read or do math, but she didn’t understand my determination. As a high school junior, I now play varsity hockey, get good grades in Algebra 2, and achieve pretty well socially too.

I can’t get my autism to go away no matter how hard I try. But I’m living proof that people can’t tell me how far I can go. That is up to me!

A middle-aged woman approached me at ArtPrize and said, “Your art is powerful. It helps me to remember. I’m a teacher with two autistic children in my classroom. Yesterday was a challenging day.”

Trying to understand, I asked, “What does my work help you remember?”

She paused and then said, “While reading the story about the high school boy with autism, I could feel his heart. Especially his statement, ‘I’m still human.’ Your work helps me remember that my autistic students are still human.”

Visitors encourage me with profound statements:

Your art helps us emotionally connect to issues we might only understand on the intellectual level.

You always have such thought-provoking pieces.

You’re not selling; it seems like you are giving. Your artwork is powerful, spiritual, and engaging.

A young mom summed up the work: “Thank you for what you wrote. My son is on the autism spectrum. This story gives me hope.”

Over 9000 notes have been added to the Wall of Hope so far at the Wing and a Prayer exhibit.