An Art Exhibition at the Birmingham Public Library Celebrates Autism Acceptance Month

Rainbow Houses, Ken O’Loughlin, acrylic on canvas, 24” x 36” 

Birmingham, Ala. - This April, the Birmingham Public Library celebrates Autism Acceptance Month with an art exhibition titled A World in a Grain of Sand. The exhibition features works in various media by artists from Studio By The Tracks (SBTT). Studio By The Tracks is a nonprofit community arts studio that has been serving artists with autism for 35 years. 

A World in a Grain of Sand is the latest installment in BPL’s visual arts series, Art for Everyone, which débuted in January. The exhibition is on display in the First Floor Gallery at the Central Library through Friday, May 31. 

In conjunction with A World in a Grain of Sand, SBTT’s artist in residence Tara Stallworth Lee will offer two workshops on the art of hand papermaking on Tuesday, May 7. A youth workshop will take place from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., followed by a similar for adults from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Please stay tuned to the BPL website for additional information about these fun, informal classes!

Located in Irondale, Alabama, Studio By The Tracks provides artists on the autism spectrum with opportunities for social connection and creative expression in a supportive, inclusive environment. All materials and instruction are offered at no cost to the Studio’s artists. The artworks that comprise A World in a Grain of Sand originate from SBTT’s core adult program, which serves more than 50 artists weekly from the greater Birmingham area. 

SBTT was born out of the need to fill a gap in services for creative individuals on the spectrum as they age out of school systems in their late teens and early twenties. The organization’s founder, Ila Faye Miller, sought to create a program that would allow her students at Glenwood’s Allan Cott School to continue growing as adult artists in an environment that would support their unique needs.’

A World in a Grain of Sand has been made possible by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, awarded to the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library. The exhibition will be on display at the Central Library through Friday, May 31. It is free and open to the public during regular business hours. 

About Autism Acceptance Month 

What started as Autism Awareness Month or World Autism Month, disability rights advocates and allies pushed for the month to be recognized as Autism Acceptance Month. From the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, this month was created by and for the autistic community when "the United Nations designated April 2, 2008, as World Autism Day to raise awareness of the need to improve education, career opportunities, and community services and supports for Autistic individuals." They emphasize acceptance over awareness to advocate for the inclusivity of and increase in resources for autistic people and combat the rhetoric spread by advocacy organizations run by non-autistic people that autism should be cured and eradicated. 

Featured artists

Gabriel Bailey 

Garrett Bailey 

Dennis Brown

Jason Bryan 

Russ Bullwinkle 

Tynesha Carlton 

Donna Carter

Linda Cooper 

Robert “Bebo” Davis

Brittany Dunn 

Kenny Everett 

Jon Faulk 

William Gosha 

Michael Hall 

Patricia Hefner

Mychal Hicks 

Art Horton

John Miller

Michael E. Moore

Michael L. Moore

Ken O’Loughlin

Inés Orihuela 

Byron Pickett 

Alan Poole 

Mark Porch 

Caroline Pruitt 

Austin Thrasher

Monika Woody

Xan Young

By Margaret Splane|Library Assistant III,  Community Engagement & Fundraising