ArtScene Continuing and Recommended October 2016
Pat Sandler, “Alex,” 2016, photograph, is
currently on view at dnj.
Children with autism and other special needs are
repeatedly plagued by stigma and discrimination. They are frequently subject to
humiliation and bullying. But not only they are treated poorly, so are family
members, causing isolation and emotional distress. Hence, “Inside/Out” is
a beautiful collaborative art project by art therapist and photographer Pat
Sandler, who builds for us a bridge of insight to the otherness. The
project consists of portraits, texts and photographs of 20 young artists with
special needs from The Help Group’s Village Glen Schools. Each student is
displayed in a black-and-white portrait shot by Sandler. Beside these are
displayed the photographs and insightful personal writings of the students.
These provide a window to their souls to which we can connect. For example, a
photo of Gerardo, resting on his bed with his eyes closed, tells us that
although he looks like a typical boy from the outside, he is different due to
his autism. His condition has robbed him of a carefree childhood, making him
grow up faster, so that he calls himself a man-child seeking happiness. An
image of Ebony, an African American teenage girl, depicts her palms pointing at
us, covering part of her face. She writes, “When I look at this picture. I see
beautiful hands hiding an emptiness underneath a tender face. Yet she smiles
when the world turns away. Who is she? Who does she wish to be? Anything but
nobody” (dnj Gallery, Santa Monica).
SK