BERGEN

Artist with autism showcases his work at special exhibition

Deena Yellin
Staff Writer, @deenayellin

If Thomas O'Meara was excited about his first major art exhibition, he didn't show it.

In the 19-year-old's quiet world, such emotions as joy or disappointment tend to be a mystery. But when this young man of few words turns to the canvas, his feelings give voice to a spectrum of shapes and colors.

Thomas, an Oradell resident, lives with autism, a developmental disability that impacts social and communication skills. Autism affects more than 3.5 million people nationwide and the number of children who receive the diagnosis each year – one in every 68 – is on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Jersey has one of the highest autism rates in the nation with 1 in 41 children receiving a diagnosis of the disorder.

The art exhibition, which opened Sunday at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly, marked a defining moment for Thomas and his family. Five of his works are on display: A sunflower, a cityscape, a Picasso-style face, a sun and moon scene and a remarkably realistic portrait of a woman. His parents, grandmother, aunt and brother proudly surrounded him as he perched himself underneath his paintings and began drawing his next masterpiece.

The aim of the annual show – featuring 227 paintings, sculptures and ceramics – is to showcase the talents of the "differently abled" with the broader community, organizers said.

A slew of visitors gazed at Thomas' work as they breezed through the JCC halls. For once, his art was the center of attention, not his autism.

"As a consumer looking at Thomas' art, it's quite impressive," said Mindy Liebowitz, coordinator of the Guttenberg Center for Special Services at the JCC, who selected the pieces for the show ."The work is incredibly detailed. He's a very talented guy."

The opportunities for talented people with autism are growing every year, said Peg Kinsell, institutional policy director for SPAN in New Jersey.

The Kennedy Center, Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, the Art of Autism, Artists With Autism and the National Arts and Disability Center are all groups that help promote the inclusion of artists with disabilities into the broader community.

"Hopefully because of inclusion, they are exposed to more variety and have an opportunity to showcase their talents," said Kinsell, adding that it's important for the public to recognize the abilities and talents of those with autism.

The exhibition will be up for the entire month, coinciding with Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month, said Liebowitz, noting that the contributors come from a variety of backgrounds.

At home before the event, Thomas was busy drawing a jungle scene. "Rhinoceros!" he shouted to nobody in particular. He pointed out a painting of a fish hanging on the wall that he had painted last year but couldn't say why it's his favorite. Then he danced a little jig before going back to his drawing.

It was impossible for Thomas to describe why he draws what he does. Most social interactions are a struggle for him. He rarely converses and uses one word exclamations to express a need.

His mother, Patti O'Meara, first noticed something was different about her son when he was a toddler. His motor and speech skills lagged behind others his age. "As a parent, you get that gut feeling," she said. At first, she thought he was slow to respond because he might be deaf. When he was 14 months old, she brought Thomas for an evaluation: The diagnosis was autism.

She grabbed the challenge by the reins. "It was a matter of re-educating myself and getting him everything he needed," Patti said. "You have to keep pushing. You focus on the positive."

She hired speech, occupational and art therapists, enrolled him in special classes and placed him in a self contained-classroom where he received extra attention.

His artistic gift was apparent early on. Even his kindergarten teachers noticed his sophisticated art projects. Art became a means of calming himself as well as a mirror into his soul. "When he was happy he drew butterflies, when he was angry, he would draw with darker colors," said Patti, who enrolled her son in art classes. "He blinks his eyes and it's like he's taking a picture of it in his head that he later puts on paper."

She added, "We'd hear it throughout his life – people would look at his work and tell us he's very very talented."

Thomas' father, Jimmy, and his mother are divorced. But they both share an obvious pride in their son's progress. Jimmy used his phone to snap one photo after another of Thomas at the art exhibition.

"In his world, all the animals co-exist happily," Jimmy said. "He'll draw all of them with happy faces. That's how he sees the world."

Thomas sat on a bench, mostly focused on his new drawing but every so often he'd jump up and dance. His parents both smiled at their son. Thomas' mother held his hand a few times, and when he needed a break from the crowd,she  took him for a walk.

Thomas has come a long way, Patti bragged. He attends a high school specializing in vocational and life skills. He's more verbal than he's ever been and is willing to eat a greater variety of foods. He also enjoys swimming, photography, trips to museums and zoos and recently taught himself to read and write Japanese, she said.

And then, sounding like a typical North Jersey mom boasting about her son, she added, "He's an amazing, sweet, good, happy kid."

"Every day," she said, "he wows me."