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May 18, 2005
One Man Show
Last year I was hounded and hounded and talked into giving weekly art lessons to a young ten year-old named Ashlin. His parents knew that I was dyslexic and heard me giving a talk at the dyslexic school here in Austin.
Five seconds after meeting Ashlin I said, “Okay I’ll do it.”
The kid is great. He has a cleft palate and gone through 12 surgeries so far. He is also dyslexic and attention span challenged like I am. But he SHINES! His enthusiasm and energy explode from the kid like a Super Nova in the night sky.
At first I was reluctant to give Ashlin art lessons. Mainly because I am a new artist myself and have never trained as an art teacher and I don’t know a bloody thing about teaching art. Besides, I am currently writing three books, working on a video series based on my books, and drinking loads of tea.
I shared my concerns with his parents and they said, “That’s okay. Just show him what you do.”
Well, we’ve been creating art for a year and Ashlin has taught me more about life and overcoming obstacles than I’ve taught him about art.
I must say his art has improved and blossomed. Mainly because I put on the music and tell him to paint what he feels. (All i really do is show him how NOT to splatter my ceiling and the nice hard-wood floor.)
I decided a few months ago that all great artists deserve an opportunity to show their work to the public. Ashlin’s work needed to be exhibited. So I arranged for his first One Man Show. This took place in my studio/gallery last weekend. I cleared out all of my work and hung Ashlin’s canvases. I then framed his smaller pieces and hung them on a side wall. His mother sent out invitations to friends and family inviting them to Ashlin’s show. His mum brought snacks and drinks and we turned the space into a “real” gallery.
The opening was brilliant. More than thirty people came to the event. Ashlin sold over $270 worth of art. (Mostly to his grandma. I hope she appreciates the bargain she got.)
It was heartwarming to see a kid (who hid behind his mop of curly hair and year ago) stand proudly in front of his art and explain the philosophy behind his work. Gone was his fear of people staring and whispering about his cleft palate and scars under his nose. (The pain and ridiculing he sometimes got at his last school now just a distant echo in the back of his mind.) His inhibitions and social fears were replaced with a beaming albeit crooked smile as he proudly displayed his colorful expressive work which, in essence, represents his outlook on life.
(I honestly believe being creative can add so much value to one’s life. From crafts to scrap-booking, quilting to sketching, woodworking to model-making, creativity touches a part of the soul that cannot be reached any other way.)
Ashlin said to me during his show, “This must be the best I’ve ever felt in my life. It’s so good to feel worthwhile. I feel valuable.” (I think he meant to say valued.)
I’m looking forward to my next session with Dr. Ashlin the Art Therapist. I can’t wait to see what I’m going to learn about life this week.
Posted by trevor at May 18, 2005 02:19 PM
Comments
How terrific that you turned him on to music for inspiration! His work is really great and, more importantly it looks and sounds like he is having a lot of fun. And so are you! Doesn't get much better than that now does it?
Posted by: susie at May 18, 2005 03:22 PM
Valuable, or valued? He sounds pretty valuable to me.
Gerry
Posted by: Gerry at May 19, 2005 12:07 AM
Hi Trevor
I've just read your blog from start to finish and am moved. Apart from exquisite writing & drawing, your perception of life is so warm and refreshing. I cried reading your entry about the 14-yr old model. Now I'm pondering about how to live a life of meaning instead of just being a rat in a race. Thank you for sharing yourself.
Kerry
BTW: I live in a coastal resort about halfway between East London & Morgan Bay. When was your friend Ben in Morgan Bay? My husband used to run adventure camps for kids from the campsite there!
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Thank you for the kind words Kerry. Ben worked at the Morgan Bay Hotel from about 99 - 2004. BTW: My dad wa born in East London.
-- Trevor
Posted by: Kerry at May 19, 2005 02:20 AM
You have give such an incredible gift to Ashlin. I am sure by Ashlin's statement that his self esteem has risen 100 times over by your interest in him and his abilities and who he is as a young person.
I taught art lessons to children privately in my home. The change in these children when you give them tools and an outlet to express themselves, show an interest in them and their abilities, is a gift to be treasured.
I still miss my young students and their delight and excitement in showing me what they could do with a little encouragement and a smile. If only more parents understood this as a key to their child's self esteem and their success in life.
You set the bar high and Ashlin will soar!
http://www.designerm.com/blog.html
Posted by: Maggie at May 19, 2005 09:05 AM
Silly wonderful Trevor, who cares if you'd never taught art before. It wasn't all about the art anyway. I love the way you cherish these kids enough for them to see their own value.
Posted by: deb at May 19, 2005 09:25 AM
Your Art is palatable. These kids are learning from you what they can't learn from any other teacher in the world. They're very, very lucky.
Keep it up, Trevor!
Posted by: Alex at May 19, 2005 12:53 PM
Trevor,
Thats a very cool story. But what is even more amazing (well not more amazing than Ashlins testimony) is that you've been drawing for only a year? Why you gotta go and make us full-career artist look bad. What did you do to teach yourself to draw. I have a friend who was a music teacher and at 30 bought the book DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN. He now illustrates childrens books and his work shows up in CA and Print. Anyway, enough babble.
Posted by: Don at May 20, 2005 05:37 PM