Local artists with disabilities showcase talent in Ag Museum exhibit

TIFTON — Local Autism Spectrum Disorder artists and artists with other special needs will have their work on display in an exhibition beginning June 1 titled "Special Art From Special Folks: Art of Autism 2" at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's Georgia Museum of Agriculture Gallery.

This annual project, which started in December 2021 with the first Art of Autism exhibition, aims to positively impact individuals with special needs and those who love and care for them, through the power of art. The project, built with art made by local artists of all ages and abilities, provides a safe and celebratory space for artists with various special needs to showcase their work.

According to Museum Curator Polly Huff, the exhibit has proven to unlock enhanced communication through creative expression and improve imagination and motor skills in some of the artists. Additionally, the project aims to build stronger relationships within families with neurodiverse children in the Tifton community.

The exhibit features a diverse range of art forms, including visual art, digital art, 3-D art, textiles, and a written word component. ABAC graduate Nicolas Johnson, who served as the senior curatorial intern in the inaugural exhibit, played a crucial role in bringing the project to fruition and is also one of the participating artists in both the first and second editions.

Community parent liaison Donna Johnston and local nonprofit Tru Colors Artistic Organization worked closely with the families, artists, and curatorial staff at the GMA to bring this exhibition to life. The Ark of Southwest Georgia also promoted the exhibition and is featuring some of its own artists in the lineup.

To ensure an inclusive experience, the GMA's curatorial and interpretive staff have collaborated to provide a sensory-friendly experience for visitors on the opening day, June 1. Guests with low sensory needs can request a special sticker, alerting the staff to their preference for a low-sensory experience. Headphones for the train also will be available upon request.

The exhibit opens to the public with a drop-in milk and cookies reception on June 1 at 2 p.m. in the museum's art gallery. Visitors can enjoy the exhibit until July 25, with admission included in the daily museum admission, available for purchase at The Country Store.

In addition, Huff has implemented a quiet space for museum visitors with ASD and designed a social story for the GMA Gallery. These resources aim to provide meaningful information, options, expectation parameters, and flexibility to visitors with ASD, making their museum experience less stressful.

For more information about the "Special Art From Special Folks: Art of Autism 2" exhibit, visit https://gma.abac.edu/ or contact the museum at (229) 391-5205.