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Natalie Derr, a creative technologist for Islands of Brilliance, helps with the Natterdays activity at Lemon Street Gallery’s workshop featuring Islands Brilliance, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit for neurodiverse people and their families.
Workshop participants use ProCreate on iPads as part of the Doodle Lounge, under guidance from Islands of Brilliance creative technologists.
Workshop participants fill out worksheets as part of the Natterdays portion of the event.
Within the bright, colorful walls of Lemon Street Gallery, Islands of Brilliance, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit, held a workshop for neurodiverse people and their families titled Sandbox.
The workshop, which is making its way to different cities within Wisconsin, hit the road for the first time this year, and it features different aspects of programming offered at the nonprofit. The organization aims to teach an art, design and STEM-based curriculum to help those on the autism spectrum gain technical skills and practice social and emotional learning.
Angela Ruesch attended the workshop along with her children after learning of the event at an autism conference.
“I think it (Sandbox) is amazing,” Ruesch said. “ Especially because you can bring siblings .”
The workshop began with an activity called Natterdays, which is designed to help people with storytelling skills. Participants filled out a Mad Libs-style worksheet and an “about me” worksheet and shared their work with the rest of the group.
The next part of the workshop was the Doodle Lab, in which participants created different works of art on iPads via procreate and traditional paper and pencil.
The workshop concluded with Smactivities, in which participants constructed objects out of popsicle sticks, paper, pipe cleaners, googly eyes and more. Some creations included an origami dinosaur and a monster truck made from foam circles and pipe cleaners.
“It’s been really exciting to be in different areas of Wisconsin,” said Natalie Derr, a creative technologist for Islands of Brilliance. “I think the more we can get out there and get our word out, the more that we can spread this and have more people participate.”
Islands of Brilliance was founded by Mark and Margaret Fairbanks, who have a son on the autism spectrum, in 2012.
When their son was younger, their son noticed Mark using a digital illustration software and asked to try. After minimal instruction, he drew his favorite character at the time — Percy from Thomas the Tank Engine.
“And that’s when we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, area of interest, technology and a little bit on instruction— what’s gonna happen?” Margaret said.
Margaret and Mark tested their idea of including art, design and STEM-based teaching at Discovery World in Milwaukee and their programs, which are all based around those principles, have grown ever since.
“I think it’s great that they’re bringing awareness for kids with disabilities or autism,” Ruesch said. “ I think that’s so great.”
Left: Char Messerich takes a closer look at a piece of artwork at the Kenosha Art Market on its opening weekend Sunday. Right: A view of the Kenosha Art Market on its opening day of the season Sunday at Union Park.
A view of the Kenosha Art Market on its opening day of the season Sunday at Union Park.
Dozens attend the Kenosha Art Market at Union Park on its opening day Sunday, June 19, 2022.
Artist Dean Habegger under a tent exhibits paintings that include bits of material, such as orange peels, at the Kenosha Art Market held Sunday, June 19, 2022, at Union Park.
Artist Dean Habegger under a tent exhibits paintings that include bits of material, such as orange peels, at the Kenosha Art Market held Sunday, June 19, 2022, at Union Park.
Artist Dean Habegger under a tent exhibits paintings that include bits of material, such as orange peels, at the Kenosha Art Market held Sunday at Union Park in Kenosha.
Char Messerich takes a closer look at a piece of artwork at the Kenosha Art Market on its opening weekend Sunday, June 19, 2022.
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Natalie Derr, a creative technologist for Islands of Brilliance, helps with the Natterdays activity at Lemon Street Gallery’s workshop featuring Islands Brilliance, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit for neurodiverse people and their families.
Workshop participants use ProCreate on iPads as part of the Doodle Lounge, under guidance from Islands of Brilliance creative technologists.
Workshop participants fill out worksheets as part of the Natterdays portion of the event.
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