Media

Special Children's Art Display, February 2016.

Autistic artist from Cambridge has true vision for the art

Art is an expression which can easily transfer power of visualization into reality. Each of us can interpret art as we wish. Mikey also admires art which gives him power to understand and define it in his own terms. Being an autistic kid who did not speak until age 10 Mikey also went through same cycle of struggles. However, his never give up attitude allowed him to become a good artist. He is not only a gifted painter but also an accomplished pianist. His attention to detail showsin his amazing painting of buildings and towers. We are proud of Mikey’s artistic skills and detailed eye catching paintings.
The interview with Mikey was conducted by Special Children's Art Display in February 2016.

: What do you like about art? How did you learn to paint so beautifully?
M: What I like about art made by other people is being able to see it the way I want to see it. Nobody can really tell you what to see, what it means. For example, if you stand and look at a huge Rothko colour field it is what it means to you. When you are autistic that feels so good. Most of the time other people are telling you what things mean but with art it is different. When I am painting I like that I can make the picture in my head slowly appear on the paper. I paint things that I like, things that are important to me and if someone else likes the picture it is great. It is hard to share pictures in your head but when you paint you can share.
I don't know really. I didn't draw or paint anything until a couple of years ago. I just didn't think to try. Mostly I didn't go to school and didn't have any art lessons and in home school I learned about things in different ways. I have always liked buildings and the way that if you look at it differently, higher, lower, round the corner you can change the perspective, the way it looks. That is so interesting and something I have done since I was a little kid. I collect crayons and just decided to use them to put the different angles and ways of looking on paper. That was how my art started.

: Which is your favorite piece of work and why?

M: I don't really have a favourite. If I make a painting that I don't like then I don't keep it. If it doesn't match what is in my head it seems wrong and out of place and it just irritates me until I throw it away. There is so much stuff that I like by other artists. At the moment I am finding recent Dada art very interesting. It makes you think. You find things put together that do not belong together, like something of worth next to some piece of flotsam. That makes you think about value. Recently I was looking at a piece of art by Robert Rauschenberg called erased de Kooning. Rauschenberg took a piece of art by de Kooning that was considered excellent and valuable. Rauschenberg also admired and valued de Kooning's art and so spent weeks erasing the work. The result is an empty frame. It makes you think about the value of art and what is art. You can think about what the artist is giving you - perhaps he is giving you the space to make your own art, your own story.

: Who is your favorite artist? If you have to draw painting of your favorite artist, which will you draw and how will the painting be different?

M: I don't really have a favourite artist. I like particular styles. I like art that allows you to find the story yourself. To find the story in the colours, objects, shapes. Art, like Dada, that really makes you think and often laugh. I have enjoyed the work of Robert Rauschenberg, Kurt Schwitters and some Jasper Johns is pretty amazing. I like to see art made of ordinary, everyday stuff. Also I like sculpture particularly the smooth lines of many of Antony Gormley's figures. And photography. I went to an exhibition by Alex Soth, it was amazing - it was called Sleeping by the Mississippi. He had photos of a bed in all sorts of places mixed with other images of people and landscape. The images danced back and forwards in your head like a dream coming to play. I still laugh when I think about it. I don't think I would try to draw or copy anything by artists that I like. The art is like something they give you, something for you to think about to have fun with and keep in your mind. It is a gift.

: What is your favorite composition to play on a piano? How long do you usually practice?

M: Again, I like many composers. It might depend how I feel that day. I like classical, baroque and some jazz and modern. Today I am enjoying playing the Russian composer Kabalevsky. His piece Kavaleriiskaya (Cavalryman) sounds just like horses charging along. It is very exciting and a lot of fun to play. I might try to play this with no errors and put it on my website. I don't really have a set practice time. I play everyday. If I have an exam coming up I spend more time going through the scales and stuff but mostly I just like to play pieces. I find it very easy to remember music and when I have played a piece a few times I can just play it without the music. I enjoy playing.

: What are your other hobbies?

M: I like collecting things. I have collections of coins, train maps and timetables, Crayola crayons, crime novels by certain authors, Fighting Fantasy books, Now CDs, maps and lots more things. I also find it relaxing to arrange and rearrange my collections. I also have a collections of debris. My debris is little bits of metal that I have been picking up off the street since I was a little kid. I like my debris collection because it is all little bits of something that was bigger - maybe a machine or a bit of jewellery. Things that were one day special but are broken and have been discarded. They are all different and interesting and I don't think it matters that it is no longer part of the complete thing. Anyway each bit is special to me. I like trains, railway stations, the London underground and riding in elevators. I like church and going swimming. And castles - you can sit in a tumbledown castle and see so many stories and feel how people would go in to the castle to try to be safe.

: What is your favorite place to visit?

M: London. It has so many museums and galleries and the whole place is joined up by trains. It is wonderful. In London, I like the Tate Modern gallery. It is huge square sort of building filled with modern art. There is a room full of Rothko. There is lots of fun sculpture, combines and compositions to make you think. It is a great place.

: What do you like to do when you are with your family?

M: I pretty much go everywhere with someone from my family. It feels safer and I am happier if someone is there. I know sometimes I am hard to understand and it is helpful if I have another voice. It also helps if I get too excited or stressed or upset to have someone who knows and cares with me to suggest other things to do for a while like go to a cafe, find a train to watch or take a walk. I don't really have any friends.

: What is your favorite movie?

M: I don't have one. I don't watch films or much TV. I find the talking and the stories move too fast. It gets confusing and I don't enjoy them. The only sort of TV I might watch is quiz shows because I like to remember all the scores. I also like the opening sofa scenes on The Simpsons. I have remembered all these and which series and episode they come from. Stuff like that is fun.

: Any special message for our community?

M: That is hard but I have one about art. Don't let other people tell you how to look at things. When I was a small kid it was 'look at it properly, you could not have seen it that fast', 'don't look at it sideways and all squinty eyed' and so on and so on. I look at the art or the building the way that I can see it, enjoy it and remember it. Also don't let other people tell you what things mean. Find your own story in the painting, the sculpture or the photograph. That is what the artist is giving you.

Autism File

Issue 61, April/May 2015.

Mind’s Eye
Art Across the Spectrum
BY DEBRA MUZIKAR
Mikey Allcock saw one of his paintings for the first time on the Art of Autism website (www.the-art-of-autism.com) which had him bouncing around the house shrieking with unfettered joy. He was thrilled that other people liked his painting!

In 1999, Mikey was diagnosed with autism. His pediatrician and psychologist told his family that he would never amount to much. They were advised to have low expectations and place him in special education for children with severe learning disabilities. At the time of his diagnosis, he was only 17 months old. By age five, epilepsy was added to his diagnoses.

At age seven, Mikey refused to go to school. He sat and cried—not an angry cry, but a really sad and despairing cry. Mikey, despite being non-verbal, communicated his distress so his family tried to school him at home. Sitting at a table trying to understand books did not hold Mikey’s interest, so learning became experiential. He learned about geography by climbing mountains, about how to judge distance by walking miles, about history by visiting castles, and he learned how to add by counting trains.

When he was 10 years old, many years after his family had been told he would never speak or communicate, Mikey began to talk. He began to write and he composed short poems expressing thoughts he couldn’t express with the spoken word. Observing his rather awkward penmanship, one of his therapists suggested he try doing some finger exercises on the piano. Musical talent poured out of him! Today, he is an accomplished pianist, blessed with perfect pitch and the ability to rapidly memorize long musical scores. Every morning he fills the family home with Mozart and Beethoven.

At age 12, Mikey tried again to settle into a formal education attending an autism unit attached to a mainstream school. However, he began to see himself as a failure when the teaching style, constraints, and routines of school made him feel unhappy and unable to learn. After a couple of years, he returned to experiential learning at home.

Mikey started to paint less than a year ago at age 15. He paints things he loves: castles, cathedrals, railway stations, and tall towers. Years before he started to paint, Mikey would stand in front of buildings looking at them through outstretched fingers, his face totally tuned to the details. That intense interest and enthusiasm can be felt in his paintings. Since he first started painting, Mikey has sold a few of his works but mostly he just gives them away to friends and people he likes. He painted a stunning picture of his local church to give to the Deacon just because he likes him. He has an incredibly altruistic soul. Talking is still a demanding task, yet Mikey’s confi dence is blossoming through his art and he’s proud of his paintings.

When asked about his autism, Mikey says, “Autism makes things shine.”

Mikey Allcock, A Talented Painter And Pianist

Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips21 Apr 2015

Here is one more example of a gifted and talented teenager on the autism spectrum. I don’t believe it is just a coincidence, that individuals with ASD enjoy artistic brilliance and skills!
Mikey, a 16 year old teenager, was nonverbal until the age of 10, then gradually started talking. At school age, he couldn’t attend special education schools for more than four years, then became home-schooled. Sitting in front of books looking at words in classrooms was very frustrating for him. The school setup was not right for Mikey.

Even though professionals didn’t give Mikey’s parents any hope when he was first diagnosed with autism at the age of 17 months, he started to unveil his area of strength later on.
At the age of 12 he started playing piano, and became a skillful pianist. He plays Beethoven and Mozart as an expert. In addition, he became a part-time student in mainstream.
At the age of 16 he started to paint. His favorite things to paint are train stations (mind he lives in the U.K.), cathedrals, churches, high buildings and towers. His paintings are absolutely stunning.

Here are some tips for both, parents and educators:

Professionals’ opinions are not verdicts. They try to do their best, but since what causes autism still remains a mystery, nobody can tell exactly in which direction a child with ASD will develop. Try to stay hopeful, no matter what!
When schools prove to be the wrong placement for a child, parents should simply move on and consider other options. Homeschooling is a great choice, if possible. County programs could be another option. Non-academic schools relying on developing personal skills are great outlets as well.
Physical activities, like walking, running, bouncing a basket ball, help channel a lot of frustration, and open doors for talents to emerge.
Allow the child to explore different kinds of activities: physical, cultural, art, social (like board games or having play dates with other kids to get used to different people, places, experiences,…) Always try exposure to new settings.
Make sure children get in contact with nature regularly. Mikey learned about painting big towers and cathedrals because he was exposed to climbing mountains. Being close to the nature helps revealing concealed skills and spark off talents. Spending time at the beach, rivers, lakes, woods, farms, or a even the neighborhood park, can be a door opener to new horizons.
Individuals on the autism spectrum are very visual. They rely on this capability to understand their surrounding world and act upon accordingly. So let’s use this strength to communicate with them, teach them, and help them discover their talents.

There is a lot of resemblance between Iris Grace, Stephen Wiltshire, Chris Murray, and now Mikey. They all have autism, they were nonverbal as young kids, they all enjoy an artistic talent. My personal interpretation is that their talent whether it’s painting,drawing, or playing music, is a means of communication with the outside world. Through their art they are able to express themselves without having to talk. In order to overcome their verbal deficiency, they resort to their internal resources to bring out their precious hidden treasures to share with us.

Educators, please allow enough time on your daily schedule for an arts and crafts session. It doesn’t have to be very long, but let the children try different materials, techniques, and ideas.

If you know that your student enjoys artistic skills, use it as an incentive. You can also use it when you feel that she/he is becoming non-cooperative, and save yourself and the class a meltdown.

Nadia Shanab

Mic.com

28/05/15

Myth: Autism is a condition that some people just have to bear.

Autism isn't necessarily something people are suffering through.

"My autism makes things shine," writes Mike Allcock. "Playing the piano makes me very happy... Playing Beethoven is like your feelings — all of them — exploding."

Allcock, who is 16 and from the U.K., was non-verbal until he was 10. According to his bio, he was first diagnosed on the spectrum at 2 years old. His parents were told to put in him in a special education program and that they shouldn't expect much. Now, Allcock is an accomplished pianist, and a year ago, he started painting for the first time.

It's past time to let the myths and misconceptions about autism go, and help other people know what it really means to be autistic — what it means to just be unique and different.

By Michael McCutcheon

Cambridge News

31/12/14

‘Amazing’ autistic Cambridge teen Mikey Allcock discovers gift for painting

Cambridge teenager Mikey Allcock first picked up a paintbrush less than a year ago.

The 16-year-old, who has severe autism, revealed a gift for painting, which has led to him having artworks published in journals and on US art websites.

“He’s absolutely amazing,” said his mother Lucy Allcock. “It’s just knocked us over.”

Mikey, who was born in Cambridge, was diagnosed with autism before his second birthday. Ms Allcock was told that “he wouldn’t learn and he won’t amount to much”.

He did not start speaking until he was 10 and he still has very limited language and social skills.

“It would’ve been so easy to just give up on Mikey, to assume that he couldn’t do anything,” said Ms Allcock.

Most of the 20 paintings her son has completed since March feature buildings, towers and railway stations, which are particular loves of his.

Ms Allcock says her son’s autism helps him with his painting.

“I think the attention to detail and how many hours he’s concentrated on buildings and castles has enabled him to really look in a way that we don’t at buildings.

“We just see a boring concrete tower, he sees something wonderful. He just stood in amazement at the new car park at Addenbrooke’s.”

Mikey’s autism also means he can only concentrate for about 10 minutes on a task.

“His attention span is very short; he’ll paint for 10 minutes, go away and come back. Some days he’ll just do 10 minutes a day other times he’ll come back 20 or 30 times,” she said.

Mikey has had several paintings featured on US website The Art of Autism and has had two paintings accepted for publication in a journal about autism.

Ms Allcock says her son has sold a few paintings but mostly he gives them away.

“He painted one of the church we go to” – St Laurence’s Roman Catholic Church on Milton Road – “and he gave it to the deacon because he likes the deacon,” she said.

Painting is not Mikey’s only artistic accomplishment. The teenager took up the piano when he was 11 to loosen his fingers in the hope of helping him with writing and he is due to sit his Grade Five exam in February.

Ms Allcock says Mikey’s artwork has opened up possibilities for him.

She said: “There are very few avenues open for him, because his language is so terrible and his social skills don’t exist. He probably won’t ever be independent. But when I ask him what he wants to do he says he wants to do art and music.

“Maybe I can change a room into a studio he can be a self-employed artist.”

Mikey's Autism Art