Wisconsin Medical Journal
107 #2
107 #2
|
The Artistic Autistic Savant
Artistically inclined autistic savants create and perform their art with fluid ease. To them, it is as natural as breathing. Some can hear a piano concerto once and play it back flawlessly. Others can catch a fleeting glimpse of a running horse and recreate it perfectly in clay.To many of the artistic savants, it is their release — their escape — their way to fit into a noisy and disordered world. Their way to connect with the people around them. They create and they perform because they are compelled to by the forces that make them unique, but they also do so because it brings them tremendous joy.
This page will briefly walk you through a few of the savant artists, both visual and musical. I encourage you to follow the links through to the full profiles of these amazing people, and especially to watch the video clips. More on musical and artistic savants can also be found in the "related items" links on the right side of the page.
Richard WawroExcerpt from Richard's profile:Like other savants Richard has a phenomenal memory. He remembers where he drew each picture and has each of them precisely dated in his mind. He uses no models for his drawings, but draws from images seen only once, on television or in a book at one of the bookstores he loves to visit. He has perfect recall but often adds his own touches, interpretations or improvisation to the images. He seems especially fascinated, and facile, with light-its sources and its dispersion-and the tones he uses to capture lights and shadows are masterful. Video excerpt from the With Eyes Wide Open documentary Shown here with the permissions of Laurence A. Becker, PhD, Producer and Ron Zimmerman, Cinematographer [Windows Media Files — approx. 8:00] |
|
|
Alonzo ClemonsExcerpt from Alonzo's profile:Alonzo can see a fleeting image on a television screen of any animal, and in less than 20 minutes sculpt a perfect replica of that animal in three-dimensional accuracy. The wax animal is correct in each and every detail — every fiber and muscle. "I recognized his talent since he was a crawlin' baby. But I was afraid he would never be accepted." Mrs. Clemons says. But Alonzo, severely disabled as a small child, has been accepted for his artistic talent. His World Premier featured 30 of Alonzo's bronze sculptures, portraying the progression from a rough and primitive style to smooth and elegant fine art. Video excerpt from Expedition ins Gehirn (Beautiful Minds: A Voyage Into the Brain) Shown here with the permission of Colourfield Productions, Dortmund, Germany [Windows Media Files — approx. 3:55] |
Leslie LemkeExcerpt from Leslie's profile:Leslie was intrigued with music and rhythm as a child. Once he was found under the bed strumming the springs in a wondrous tune. He also had a remarkable memory and would often repeat verbatim, intonations and all, a whole day's conversation he had overheard from whomever he might be visiting. Leslie played and sang often, but mostly the simple tunes May sang or popular songs from the radio. May wasn't into classical music. But one evening when Leslie was about age 14, Joe and May watched, and Leslie listened, to a television Sunday Night Movie. In the early morning hours May heard music. She thought Joe had left the television on. She went to turn it off and there was Leslie, playing flawlessly from beginning to end, having heard it but once, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, which was the theme song for that movie. God's miracle, May said, came into full bloom that night. Leslie Lemke in Concert — April 29, 1986 Shown here with the permission of Mary Parker [Windows Media Files — approx. 4:35]
Leslie Lemke in Concert — October 13, 2003 Shown here with the permission of Mary Parker [Windows Media Files — approx. 4:55] |
|
|
Matt SavageExcerpt from Matt's profile:Matt is a professional jazz pianist with his own Trio. His sidemen are world-class, adult musicians. He performs concerts and plays at jazz festivals all over the US and Canada. He has recorded three audio CDs, the proceeds of which are donated to autism research and support. He has been called “amazing” by jazz legend Dave Brubeck, and been touted as the “Mozart of jazz.” He is changing the face of jazz and has earned the respect of the greatest jazz musicians. He has an understanding of the theory and complexities of jazz, knowledge that sometimes never comes to adult musicians who have studied music all their lives. He is a musical savant. Video of Matt and his Trio performing Matt's original song, Infected with Hemiola Shown here with the permission of Diane Savage [Windows Media Files — approx. 4:51] |
Stephen WiltshireExcerpt from Stephen's profile:In the introduction to Drawings, Sir Hugh Casson, former president of the Royal Academy, says of Stephen: "Happily, every now and then, a rocket of young talent explodes and continues to shower us with its sparks. Stephen Wiltshire — who was born with severe speech difficulties — is one of those rockets." He then describes the artistic brilliance further: "His sense of perspective seems to be faultless… I've never seen in all my competition drawing such a talent, such a natural and extraordinary talent, that this child seems to have… (Stephen) is possibly the best child artist in Britain." Video excerpt from Expedition ins Gehirn (Beautiful Minds: A Voyage Into the Brain) Shown here with the permission of Colourfield Productions, Dortmund, Germany [Windows Media Files — approx. 5:15] |
|
© Wisconsin Medical Society - All rights reserved - 2008
Contact us here.