April is Autism Awareness Month, a cause for celebration as Gilmer Arts showcases one local artist’s talent with an exhibit through the rest of the month.
Brian Stahl was diagnosed with autism when he was about 2½ years old. From ha
ving an extremely limited vocabulary as a kid, to now having a passion to share his art with others, his mother, Jan, said they’ve come a long way.
“When I learn about other people’s autism, it’s quite inspiring,” Brian said. “I thought it was a weakness at first, long ago, but when I found out how they were able to use it to their advantage, they were able to create something much more. I really want to do something much more as well, discover and become more than I once was.”
His journey as an artist started as it does for most in grade school, with putting ink to paper. Then he started adding color with pencils, moved on to acrylic paint, which is his favorite medium, and is now practicing with oil paint.
“[Art] allows me to see things differently and what kind of beauty I can create, where fantasy can become reality,” Brian voiced. “In real life, we always end up finding out there are some hidden fantasies within it.”
The intersection between fantasy and realism is how he would explain his art style, adding that the left and right side of his brain can work as one when he paints.
As people visit the “Autism Awareness” exhibit, they will notice beautiful nature scenes brought to life on canvas, from sunsets, to mountain ranges, to the northern lights.
He draws inspiration for his paintings from art galleries and views he sees while vacationing with his family. Mountains in Helen and the beach at Carrabelle, Fla., are just some of the feature locations.
He spends about an hour a day practicing his craft and is now working on painting people. He can be his own teacher by studying books and watching countless, instructive videos on YouTube.
Gilmer Arts classes and being a member of the Artists Guild are other ways Brian learns new techniques. He attends Plein Air outdoor painting events through Gilmer Arts. At his first in 2021, all three of his paintings were purchased, a huge accomplishment.
He currently has some of his work for sale at Chooch, which is an artisan store in McCaysville. That was set up through the North Georgia Autism Foundation (NGAF), which provides treatment, nurtures and helps cultivate inclusion for those on the spectrum. Brian was the resident artist at the NGAF art gallery on Saturdays for the past five years. Unfortunately, the gallery had to close this past February.
When the Stahls approached Gilmer Arts director Pam Burns about opening an exhibit to improve awareness surrounding the disability, she was happy to take on the project. Jan noted that there aren’t as many resources for autistic adults, and it can be hard for them to navigate their career and life after school.
“It’s important for people to realize that if you run across someone that is quite different from you, you need to be kind and considerate to them,” she said. “It pays to be kind.”
Art and creating something new gives Brian a place to prosper. When asked how he hopes his art can inspire autistic adults who may be struggling to find their purpose, he said, “I think they can visualize and realize they could do more than they once were … They can excel and forge their way to create a [better] future.”
One of Brian’s former classmates has a son who’s on the spectrum. When they reached out to him for a painting of his perspective on it, Brian created a piece titled “Breakthrough Autism.”
“On a black canvas, he [painted a night sky] with stars and an arm pushing through,” Jan explained. “It was reaching for the stars, for autism, to keep going.”
Brian’s exhibit opened Sunday, April 6, and can be visited until April 30. It’s one of three exhibits currently being featured at Gilmer Arts, located at 207 Dalton St. in Ellijay. They are open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.