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Showing posts with label autism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autism. Show all posts

Monday, 30 June 2025

Artlyst: The Art Diary July 2025

My July Art Diary for Artlyst has been published today. The July Art Diary begins with exhibitions in and reflection on ecclesiastical buildings, through the Liverpool Biennial and the Waterloo Festival. Moments from the wide-ranging engagement between religion and art are featured in exhibitions at the Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Waddesdon Manor, and the Art Institute of Chicago, among others. Reflection on the place of myth in the human story can be found in exhibitions at the Parsonage Gallery and the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. At the same time, ‘Worldbuilding and Wonder’ explores the experience of people with autism about the concept at Firstsite Gallery:

'The late Terry Fyffe was also an artist who dedicated himself to the pursuit of creative expression and spiritual exploration. A new website dedicated to his life, art and legacy has recently been launched. Designed as a resource for artists, curators, collectors, students, and art enthusiasts, this site offers a comprehensive insight into his prolific career and extraordinary body of work.

Fyffe built a remarkable career over four decades, predominantly based in London. He described his style as “figurative, expressionist painting, about the struggle for self-realisation.” Daniel Farson wrote that: “Ffyffe is a true painter in the classical tradition. A fluent draughtsman, he understands the challenge of paint and twists it to his advantage.” ...

I was fortunate to exhibit at St Stephen Walbrook an exhibition that brought together the last works that Fyffe was working on before this profound change combined with his new work depicting the beauty of the hidden world of nature and the inner world of the mind. It was his last major exhibition and one that was particularly satisfying for him.'

For more on Terry Ffyffe see here, here, here, here, and here. For more on Pablo Bronstein see here. For more on Paul Thek see here and here. For more on Paula Rego see here and here.

My other pieces for Artlyst are:

Interviews -

Monthly diary articles -

Articles/Reviews -
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David Ackles - I've Been Loved.
Posted by Jonathan Evens at 21:43 0 comments
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Friday, 17 August 2018

The gifts that those with autism are bringing to the Church

Read the Church Times' article "Once we connect on to something, that’s it" on autism and Church, which features the Disability Advisory Group at St Martin-in-the-Fields with words from Fiona MacMillan.

The article says:

"There are estimated to be nearly a million people with a form of autism in the UK. It is likely that there are 80 in the average parish. Not all will be in church, but, like everyone else, they will be attending weddings, funerals, and other offices. Autism is not a mental-health condition, but a physical brain-wiring difference that, in the context of church worship, means, “Our brain wiring can literally overheat as it tries to handle too much input at once. We try very hard to avoid an overload of sensory or social situations.”

That explanation comes from the words of the C of E’s guidelines on autism, “Welcoming Those on the Autistic Spectrum”, which were created for Oxford diocese and formed part of the report Opening Doors, affirmed by the Synod in February.

[...]

Good practice can address all these things with what the guidelines say requires “nothing other than a bit of time and thought” — always in partnership with the people concerned. Fiona MacMillan chairs the Disability Advisory Group that works at St Martin-in-the-Fields, in London, which, in partnership with Inclusive Church, puts on an annual conference on disability and church. It is an opportunity to share learning and resources more widely, particularly evident in the booklet Calling From the Edge, launched at the General Synod in February.

“St Martin’s is a learning organisation,” she emphasises. “All our work is centred on lived experience: the experts are people who know, who encounter barriers and discrimination in daily life and in this place. We create change by understanding our different perspectives and working together to make things better.”

Whether characteristics associated with people with autism are perceived as positive or negative depends on context. “Understanding language literally is a challenge for those who don’t, but may encourage a clarity of thought which benefits all,” she reflects. “Wanting to know how things work doesn’t necessarily mean not appreciating mystery, or not being transfixed with wonder and delight at how things are.”

She lists among the characteristics of people with autism: “Honesty, integrity, directness, openness, creativity, different ways of perceiving, not being part of hierarchy and bureaucracy, not able to manipulate or discriminate. . . Loyalty, trust. Many autistic people have an inbuilt faith, unquestioning knowledge of the existence or presence of God.

“Having a passion for justice, spotting patterns, and noticing gaps or anomalies — including those who are left out or facing barriers to participation — are gospel values. Every church will have autistic people: some will have found their niche; others may not be open. It’s about acceptance of each other, openness to difference, acknowledging that one size doesn’t fit all, but we are all fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God.”

Book a place to attend 'Something Worth Sharing', the 2018 conference on Disability and Church organised in partnership by Inclusive Church and St Martin-in-the-Field's, in October.

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Gungor - Beautiful Things.
Posted by Jonathan Evens at 18:10 0 comments
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Friday, 7 August 2015

Living on the Edge and Living with Dementia


St Martin-in-the-Fields partners Inclusive Church to offer an annual conference on the subject of disability and church. This year's conference is entitled 'Living on the Edge' and will be held in the St Martin's Hall on Saturday 17th October 2015 (10.30am - 4.30pm).

How do we respond when we find ourselves excluded? A day exploring how disabled people are finding new ways to use their experience of exclusion to improve understanding and address barriers to belonging. Through talks and workshops, using the art space, silent space and marketplace, this is an opportunity organised by and for disabled people, supporters and people with an interest in the issues to gather and resource each other and the church.

Speakers include: Ann Memmott – national autism advisor; Eva McIntyre – Mental Health Matters; the Disability Advisory Group, St Martin’s; WAVE; Disability & Jesus; and Sam Wells.

Cost: £20 | £10 concessions

/stmartininthefields @smitf_london St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4JJ Phone: 020 7766 1100 Online: www.smitf.org

Register at www.inclusive-church.org/disability-conference-2015 or by post to: Living on the Edge, 4 Ferney, Dursley, Gloucestershire GL11 5AB


St Martin's is also continuing to explore the experience of dementia and faith, through the insight of lived experience and theological reflection, as we look at how our church life and worship might grow in a more dementia-friendly way. This 'Living with Dementia' event will take place in St Martin’s Hall on September 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm. All are welcome.

These initiatives stem from work which is now taken forward by the Disability Advisory Group (DAG). The DAG draws together people with insight or interest in this work arising from their own lived experience of long-term illness, physical or sensory impairment or mental health issues; or from a support, caring or professional role (paid or unpaid). Open meetings once a term, use the gathered expertise to inform and guide work on disability, with a particular focus or topic relating to issues of disability, inclusion and faith.

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Evelyn Glennie - A Little Prayer.
Posted by Jonathan Evens at 12:45 0 comments
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