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BrendanCollinsWritingIIArtist’sStatement2013
Autismisrelatedtolanguage. Therefore itmakessense that“grandma,we are poets”begins
withthe definitionof autism.However,immediatelyfollowingthe definition,Lucille Cliftonundermines
the very importance of definition itself.She imaginesaworldwhere languageismore thanwords.
“Grandma, we are poets”isaboutthe possibilitiesof anew type of language,one notconstrainedby
dictionarydefinitions.
My sculptural interpretationof “grandma,we are poets,”isan empty cardboard box.The box
symbolizesthe wayautisticpeopleare boxedinbyadefinedlanguage.Autismandlanguage bothrelate
to the behaviorsandemotionsof humans.Bydefinitionthe relationshipbetweenthesetwoissimple.
Autismrestrictsone’sabilitytouse language correctly.Cliftonusesacontradictingtone throughout
“grandma,we are poets”to emphasize the struggle autisticpeople encounterwhiletrying toovercome
definitions,comprehend social norms, andexpressthemselves usinganunfamiliarlanguage of defined
communication.Cliftonusesthe definitionsof autismfrom Webster’sNew UniversalDictionary and
RandomHouseEncyclopedia toillustrate the problemsconcernedwithgeneralizingsuchacomplex
disorder. Althoughautisticpeople struggletocommunicate verballytheystill communicate intheirown
wayand often experience the same things non-autisticsdo. Language failstoconnectdirectly toautistic
people’sformof expression,andtherefore constrainsthemor“boxes themin.”
My box sculpture isnotonlyaboutautisticpeople’srelationshiptolanguage,butalsothe
nature of theirlanguage.Mybox sculpture isempty.Forautisticpeople,dictionarydefinitionsare empty
and constraining.Theirperceptionsall toofrequentlyhave noweightormeaningtopeople whoare not
autistic.Thisdoesnotmean,however,thatautisticpeople cannotanddonot experience the worldas
well.Autisticpeople experience the worldinadifferentandunique way.Althoughtheycan
comprehendsomethinginternally,usuallytheyrelate itinawaythat is unacceptable to non-autistic

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people.
Dictionarydefinitionsin “grandma,we are poets”state that autisticpeople have a“disregardof
external reality”thatcausesthemto “withdraw intoa private world.”The private worldorinside of my
box is empty,lonely,andconfined.Oratleastthat iswhat someone wouldsee fromthe outside.The
inside of mybox doesnot in fact, representadisregardof external reality; insteaditisthe wayautistic
people comprehendthatreality. The inside of mybox mayactuallyrepresentavarietyof thingssuchas
hope,joy,andinspiration.The audience,however,isunabletoopenmybox or view these possibilities
withoutunconventionalthinkingorimagination.
Comprehensionisaninternal interpretation forwhich people oftenuse verbal communication
to compare and contrast theirbeliefsinattempttogaina betterunderstandingof whattheyare trying
to comprehend.Autisticpeople cannotrelate thisinternal interpretationtoothers effectively;
therefore,the comprehensionremainspersonal.Insocietythere are rules,alsoknownasnorms,which
membersof societyuse todistinguishacceptableandtolerablebehaviors fromthose thatare not.
Because autisticpeople are aminority,these normsare establishedinrelationtoaninterpretationof
the worldthat autisticpeople cannot use,experience,orcontribute to asexpected.Therefore,
behaviorsof autisticpeopleare inresponse tothingsuncommonandthereforeviewedas
uncommon. Autisticbehaviorstomostare viewedasunacceptable,extreme,andmostimportantly
wrong. People overlookthatbehavior itself, like language,isalsoaformof communicationand
expression.If otherscouldview the worldasautisticsdid,these behaviorswouldnotbe perceivedas
uncommonor wrongbut understood.The lackof thisunderstandingiswhatlimitsautisticpeopleand
“boxesthemin.”
I chose to do a sculptural interpretationforavarietyof reasons.Firstandmostimportantly,
sculpturesrepresentaformof expressionwithoutverbal communication.Iwantmyaudience tosee,
feel,andexperience ratherthansimplyhearwhatIhave to say. Finally,Ipaintedmybox blackto

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emphasize the bottomlessdepthof autisticpeople'sseparationfromsupposedlynormal language.
Nonetheless,thisblacknessmayalsorepresentthe endlesspossibilitiesandpotential of whatthe space
inside of mybox offers.