On 21st birthday, autistic artist’s exhibit to raise money for Easterseals in Columbus
After she watched her son, George, take one of his lessons with Columbus artist Cora King, Lisa Jenkins marveled at what these creative sessions have done for them the past three months as they strive to thrive in this next stage of his life with autism.
“God gives us what we need when we need it,” Jenkins told the Ledger-Enquirer, “… and I needed her, and he needed her.”
George, 20, graduated in 2022 from Jordan Vocational High School. As the L-E reported in May, his achievement symbolized the transformation of education for students with autism in the Muscogee County School District. Jenkins went from suing MCSD 16 years ago to praising it, describing George’s journey through the school district as “hell and heaven.”
Nearly a year later, the Jenkins family and their friends will celebrate George for another milestone: the opening of his art exhibit, “The World Through George’s Eyes,” in the King Gallery, 3211 Howard Ave., 6-8 p.m. , April 13, on his 21st birthday. All proceeds from sales during the show will go to Easterseals West Georgia, where George has received therapeutic care since he was two years old.
“They’ve just been really beneficial,” Jenkins said about Easterseals. “He has just grown leaps and bounds. He’s been safe there.”
Now, the King Gallery has become another sanctuary for George.
Inside an art lesson amid autism
King opened the studio in November, moving from the Highland Galerie to gain more space. The vacant storefront in the 1950s was the home of the Red Jacket Diner, across the street from Jordan Vocational High School.
George’s interest in art emerged during activities at Easterseals and was further developed at Jordan. When those places were closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenkins used art lessons on YouTube to help keep George engaged.
Jenkins connected with King through a mutual friend, Andy Robinson. In the three months George has been taking one-hour weekly lessons with King, Jenkins has seen her son improve his dexterity, speaking, focus and patience, along with his art,
“The biggest thing is to step back and look instead of just doing,” Jenkins said. “… She’s opened our eyes up a whole lot.”
While the L-E visited the studio during one of George’s lessons, King encouraged him with affirmations as he worked on an abstract painting, such as:
“Love those decisions you’re making.”
“Oh, wow! I really like that.”
“I like how you mixed those colors next to the pink. Great contrast.”
She asked him to step back from the canvas and consider which tool to use next: a brush, a sponge or a spatula.
“It’s up to you,” she said.
Then, as George paused to consider his options, King suggested, “If we feel stuck, let’s just flip it,” and she turned the canvas 90 degrees.
King noted part of the canvas where George applied a thicker amount of paint. “We love the difference,” she told him.
After a few minutes of George silently working on his piece, King asked him, “Are we done?”
George signed his painting, and King declared, “We’re done! I love it! Great! I’m so proud of you!”
Gratitude goes both ways
For years, Lisa wondered what outlet could help George express himself.
“Who knew it was art the whole time? Easterseals saw it, and (King) is bringing out what I knew he had in him, but I had no clue as a mother how to do this.”
Jenkins called King a blessing for constructively guiding her son through his feelings to produce art that brings joy to others as well.
“Even though your child has special needs, no matter what the disability is, they have value, and they have purpose, and they have feelings and emotions, and they matter,” Jenkins said. “… Don’t stop looking for that nook that they’ve got … This is a whole body that has something to offer in this world, and we’re just finding a piece of it.”
George’s behavioral specialist trained King in teaching techniques aligned with the way he learns. She senses her lessons with him have made her a better art teacher for her eight other students.
“There’s an element of patience … and also communicating clearly,” she told the L-E. “I think it’s just a great practice for me to make sure my volume is good, make sure I’m not speaking too fast or too slow.”
King, who hadn’t previously taught a student with autism, is grateful for her experience with George.
“It’s a big honor to be trusted and to have the time and the space to work with George,” she said. “… He’s just very special. Has a great eye for color and an incredibly mature focus. … I’m thankful for this whole relationship and very excited about April 13.”
Easterseals West Georgia president and CEO Lakisha Taylor appreciates Jenkins for choosing the nonprofit organization to benefit from the art exhibit’s proceeds.
“Lisa has been such a strong advocate in this community for children with autism, and she’s also very generous, so it didn’t surprise me that she would want to do something like that,” Taylor said. “We’re very blessed to be the recipients of it.”
Taylor noticed George gravitating toward art activities at Easterseals and the calming effect it has on him.
“He liked to see the smiles on other people’s faces when they saw it,” she said. “It’s a beautiful thing to find a way to express yourself. That is huge for the people we serve.
“With George, there’s always been a concern with expression, healthy expression … So we’ve done a lot of work around healthy expression and safe expression, and this is like the culmination of that work.”
