The Human Canvas - Rock Autism! 2012

So...

I was recently at a really

cool music event in Yucaipa, California...

Rock Autism - presented by the Autism Society - Inland Empire.

Some great music...

 ...And vendors...

And I got to hang out at the KVCR booth,

drawing puzzle pieces on people for a donation of any

amount to The Autism Society - Inland Empire.

First Priya...

um... Priya.

Then Alyssa, who was there representing KVCR.

She found it painful!

Well, maybe not.

From the website, Pinning Down Autism:

The puzzle piece logo was first created in 1963 by the National Autistic Society. They explain “that the symbol of the Society should be the puzzle, as this did not look like any other commercial or charitable one as far as they could discover. The puzzle piece is so effective because it tells us something about autism: our children are handicapped by a puzzling condition; this isolates them from normal human contact and therefore they do not 'fit in'.”

Since then, the interlocking, mutli-colored puzzle piece has become the international symbol of autism. Its significance has become multi-faceted. For some it represents the mystery and complexity of the disorder, for others it represents the mechanical nature of an autistics persons thought process. The bright colors are said to represent hope.

There were a few kids who wanted a piece done...

...Including one who had been waiting around until I got

back from wandering the site.

While it was (mostly) only puzzle pieces done that day, on many of the pieces, I found myself (unconciously) color coordinating with what they were wearing...

Or in this case,

coordinating with what was already tattooed.

She already had the four primary-colored puzzle pieces.

I provided the red and green ones.

This next wandering festival-goer got a piece to

match her clothing...

...Then it was back to Alyssa for a Sharpie

color-blending demo. I was talking with a KVCR friend

who was curious about "this whole

Sharpie thing I do."

Some of the coordinators for the event didn't

escape getting Sharpied.

Above and below, Theresa McFarland -  on the board of directors, Autism Society - inland empire...

Along with Beth Burt - 

President, Autism Society - Inland Empire

They each got something to go with their shirt.

Then, in between other festival-goers,

back to Alyssa.

(Below, a nice happenstance with the shadows)

Believe me - she woulda been COVERED
if I'd had my way. She was actually prepared to be
covered, too. Well, I missed THAT boat,
didn't I?

 Next time maybe?

On then to other patrons, volunteers, and wanderers.

I'll close with the shot I opened with.

Possibly the coolest that day, and (oddly enough)

something I hadn't considered doing. Interlocking

some pieces that is.

Thanks to ALL involved!

Again, each one of these pieces was done for a

financial contribution (again, of ANY amount) to the

Autism Society, Inland Empire. I had a LOT of fun

hanging out doing this, and I've run into

people since then who had fun as well.

Even a guy who got out of his

car (while blocking me in) to come over and shake

my hand when he recognized me

from the event.

FUN!

Thanks for stopping by and checking this out.

And thanks for telling ANYONE about this site.

AND

Thanks for being the next canvas.

Please check back. I should have another session

posted every few days until I catch up!

Meantime, you can ALWAYS catch the beginnings of all these Human Canvas adventures through a couple of tabs nears the top of the page "The Human Canvas - the beginning", "The human Canvas 2011" and "The Human Canvas 2012"

The Human Canvas & Autism Awareness

Under normal circumstance,

I've always posted the Human Canvas sessions

in the order in which

they occured.

This one needs to be an exception.

April is National Autism Awareness month.

Pictured above is Lillian Vasquez,

Marketing Coordinator at KVCR. Now,

ANYONE who raises an autistic child will end up

becoming quite knowledgable on the subject.

Lillian takes this a step further.

She's been able to use her very real experience

to suplement further education. She's also been quite

fortunate to have employment at a place which

could also serve as a vehicle for furthering

awareness and education for the

public.

And Thankfully so.

More and more information is being discovered,

and becoming available, regarding the entire autism

spectrum, but I'm afraid  that when many people of autism, they think of Dustin Hoffman's character in Rainman.

This character was amongst the most severely autistic,

with some uncanny abilities involving mathematics

and memory. This type of manifestation,

while very real, is not the norm.

KVCR, since Lillian started working there, 

has long since been involved with Autism, by way of

broadcast interviews on both radio and TV, and other educational endeavors. Most of this educational outreach

has been available to the general public. As a matter of fact, thanks to the expertise of Lillian, KVCR has been able to produce several DVDs on the subject of autism.

These are still  available, and you can find

ordering  information

  HERE. 

You can link to KVCR's Autism Initiative page HERE,

and HERE for a link to Autism Society Inland Empire.

And the puzzle piece?

From the website, Pinning Down Autism, 

"The puzzle piece logo was first created in 1963 by the National Autistic Society. They explain “that the symbol of the Society should be the puzzle as this did not look like any other commercial or charitable one as far as they could discover. The puzzle piece is so effective because it tells us something about autism: our children are handicapped by a puzzling condition; this isolates them from normal human contact and therefore they do not 'fit in'.”

Since then, the interlocking, mutli-colored puzzle piece has become the international symbol of autism. Its significance has become multi-faceted. For some it represents the mystery and complexity of the disorder, for others it represents the mechanical nature of an autistics persons thought process. The bright colors are said to represent hope."

I'd like to also think that a puzzle piece represents a person. And that person is ONE piece... of a MUCH larger picture. Whether or NOT that person falls anywhere in the autism spectrum.

So again,

I regret not getting to do this

session with Lillian until nearly the end of April.

But at least I know now...

...I have a standing date next year.

Thank you Lillian.