To You from Super Me:Super Powers, Super Heroes, Super People

Marvel/DC comic book illustrator John McCrea and celebrated image-maker Chris Keenan have collaborated with Friction Arts working with a Sandwell youth group to produce a knock-out contemporary video installation and exhibition launching at The Public at the beginning of June.

The exhibition celebrates the extraordinary imagination of eight talented individuals with autism, from the Windmill Young People’s Centre, and offers a fascinating insight into the ‘superpowers’ of these, often misunderstood, young people.

Facilitated by Sandra Hall and Simon Walker, Friction Arts, have worked with Sandwell Youth Services (SEND), the group have spent over nine months attending workshops where their ‘Super Hero’ theme developed. Fusing animation and film the exhibition celebrates their unconventional and liberated approach to the world.

As a life-long disabling condition people with autism often have problems making eye-contact, interacting with others, making friends or concentrating. Affecting 1 in 100 people the incurable illness can have a devastating effect on families however the right support can make an enormous difference which is evident in the extremely positive impact ‘To You From Super Me’ has had on the young people.

“People need to realise that we’re not that different we just need a bit more help” says Jack, one of the young artists from Windmill who has taken part. “I have never made friends like I do now – I’m not as afraid”.

This impact has also been felt by parents who participated in parts of the sessions:

“Josh feels understood for the first time and has grown great confidence.  He’s never been enthusiastic about anything like he is about this project – it’s like a switch and with this group he comes alive”.

“Jack’s making friends, is more focussed at school;  this project has been immensely important for his development”.

The finished work includes an over-sized, three-screen video projection along with original images drawn by John McCrea of each young person who took part. Animator and media artist Babis Alexiadis captured the art process to produce a documentary film to accompany the piece.

The project was part-funded via the Aiming High initiative; a government programme aimed at transforming services for disabled children and their families.

Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public said, “The Public are delighted to be providing the opportunity for this young and talented Sandwell Youth Group to have their work displayed alongside established, internationally recognised artists.”

‘To You from Super Me: Super Powers, Super Heroes, Super People’ will be exhibited at The Public from 3 June to 26 June 2011, Wednesday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm, Sunday, 11am – 3pm.  Entry is free.

Autism FACT FILE

The term ‘autism’ is used here to describe all diagnoses on the autism spectrum including classic autism, Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism.

• Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition. Without the right support, it can have a profound – sometimes devastating – effect on individuals and families
• Autism is much more common than many people think. There are over half a million people in the UK with autism – that’s around 1 in 100. If you include their families, autism touches the lives of over two million people every day
• Autism doesn’t just affect children. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism
• Autism is a hidden disability – you can’t always tell if someone has it.
• While autism is incurable, the right support at the right time can make an enormous difference to peoples lives
• Over 40% of children with autism have been bullied at school
• Over 50% of children with autism are not in the kind of school their parents believe would best support them.
• One in five children with autism has been excluded from school, many more than once
• Nearly two-thirds of adults with autism in England do not have enough support to meet their needs
• At least one in three adults with autism are experiencing severe mental health difficulties due to a lack of support
• Only 15% of adults with autism in the UK are in full-time paid employment
• 51% of adults with autism in the UK have spent time with neither a job, nor access to benefits, 10% of those having been in this position for a decade or more
• 61% of those out of work say they want to work
• 79% of those on Incapacity Benefit say they want to work