Meet my father.
SYKE!
Actually, that is me playing my father in the video shoot for my poem, “Letter to My Father” which be submitted for the Art of Autism exhibit this November. The video was shot Sunday and is currently being edited.
And stayed tuned to my YouTube channel…the video will be uploaded there after the November exhibit.
-Nicole
Hello RWP readers!
I wanted to help get the word out about several upcoming exhibits from The Art of Autism. The next edition of the book will be coming out next year. In the past, the book has featured visual art — the next edition will feature poetry as well…including one of my poems. Details to follow.
Here are each of the upcoming shows in which The Art of Autism or those featured in it will be participating:
Neurodiversity Exhibit – Artists on the Spectrum. The exhibit runs from September 19 – October 24 at the Curious Cup Bookstore in Carpinteria, CA . A book signing for artist Dani Bowman and Poet Sydney Edmond will be held on October 9 1:00 – 3:00 PM. More info and a flyer about the October 9 event here.
ARS Spectra – This exhibit opens October 27 and runs for three weeks at Soho Digital Art Gallery in Manhattan. Debra Hosseini will be holding a book signing on October 27 ay 6:00 PM and an Art of Autism entertainment show on October 28. Additionally, Esther Brokaw will be giving lecture on Savant Syndrome on October 27. More info and a flyer here.
The Art of Autism – This exhibit will run November 4, 5, and 6 at The Good Purpose Gallery in Lee, Massachusetts. Debra Hosseini will be holding a book signing November 4 and 5. There will also be an Art of Autism entertainment show — Spectrum Theater November 5. Esther Brokaw will also be giving a lecture on Savant Syndrome on November 6.
There will also be a fundraiser for the Santa Barbara Art Foundation and the Santa Barbara Library. Debra Hosseini will be holding a book signing October 9 at Gallerie 113 La Arcada in Santa Barbra on Thursday, October 6th from 5 – 8 pm and a private reception on Sunday October 9th from 2- 4 pm.
I will be part of the Art of Autism exhibit in November. Stay tuned for more details.
If you live near any of these venues, I encourage you to visit and see. Like Awe in Autism, the Art of Autism is also dedicated to showcasing the artist talents of autistic people.
-Nicole
The newest version of the video for my poem, “You Don’t See It”, is now available on Youtube. This is the version that first aired at the April 2, 2011 Awe in Autism Live Event. Included in the video is some of my own artwork specially created for the poem. Watch below. I hope you like it. 
Hellow RWP Readers!
My poem, “A Theology of an Autistic Body“, was published yesterday in qarrtsiluni. You can also hear me reading the poem on the podcast for that day on its website.
Qarrtsiluni is an online journal of poetry, prose, and art which publishes themed issues each quarter, with one poem/piece of prose/piece of artwork per day during each issue. This poem was published as part of the imprisonment issue — the contributors for that issue examine the idea of confinement, either voluntarily or involuntarily. “A Theology”, for me, is a statement about the sometimes voluntarily withdrawal that I sometimes need as an adult with Asperger’s Syndrome.
So, go check it out…as well as the rest of the fine pieces in the latest issue
Greetings, RWP Readers!
One of my poems, “Lamppost Hierophant” was published today at Shift Journal. It had been written for Sam Drezner, the son of documentary filmmaker Todd Drezner. His latest documentary, “Loving Lampposts” takes a look at his son’s autism, neurodiversity, and the current autism debates.
Go check out the poem. And while you’re at it, take a look at the rest of Shift Journal as well. It’s an eclectic publications whose contributors attempt to define autism as a legitimate way of being in the world.
Hey folks! My poem, “Color (A Modest Plea)” was republished at the brand new Autism and Empathy website today. The website is dedicated to busting myths and debunking the common stereotype that autistic people are incapable of empathy. Go check it out!
-Nicole
Greetings! My poem, “Color (A Modest Plea)“, was published today in Shift Journal of Alternatives: Neurodiversity and social change.
As you might surmise from the journal’s title, the journal’s premise is that autism has existed all along and it entertains “the notion of autistic as a legitimate way to be in the world, from the crossroads of theory, society, and personal experience”.
The poem was inspired by a piece by Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg of Journeys with Autism which appeared earlier this month in Shift Journal, “An Open Letter to Robert MacNeil Regarding PBS’ Autism Now Series“. I used the same quote by Robert MacNeil from the series to jump-start this poem as one of my NaPoWriMo poems. Please jog over to Shift Journal to read it, and check out the many other contributions in the journal about autism and neurodiversity.
-Nicole
A newly cut video for my poem, “You Don’t See It”, will be featured at two Awe In Autism arts exhibits in April in New York state.
The events collectively are called The Awe in Autism: A Spectrum of Creativity. The first event is on Saturday, April 2 (World Autism Awareness Day) at the Glenwood Arts Center in Glenwood, NY, and will feature my work and that of several other Awe in Autism artists. The second event is on Sunday, April 10 at the Great Neck Arts Center in Great Neck, Long Island; this will feature the same Awe in Autism artists, plus a group of performers.
Sorry, I can’t show you the new video right now…however, I will post in on the Raven’s Wing Poetry YouTube channel after the events are over. I’m very excited at the opportunity for my work to be exhibited and to reach others and thank Awe in Autism for choosing to feature my work along with such talented artists on the autism spectrum.
-Nicole
First, an announcement: an excerpt of the video of my poem, “You Don’t See It”, was featured in a Long Island TV FIOS segment about Awe In Autism.
The segment has been posted on MyLITV’s website in two videos. Part 1 features Awe In Autism, its founders (Deborah French and Kim Covell), and some of the work featured on the site, include the excerpt of my poem. Part 2 features “for dylan”, a song and music video which the founders call “the song behind the Awe in Autism” project.
In and amongst this bit of news and self-promotion, I feel the need to express a couple of things. First of all, if I haven’t said it before, my thanks and gratitude go to Awe in Autism for giving the opportunity for my poetry, namely “You Don’t See It”, to be featured on their site. AWE has given many autistic artists, musicians, poets, and others an opportunity to have their work seen, heard, and accessed. Also, as Kim Covell states in the first video, artists with autism often have a harder time self-promoting, and while I’ve gotten used to it thanks to the Internet, I must say I still find the task daunting sometimes. I am grateful for the opportunity for my work to reach a wider audience and go beyond this blog thanks to AWE.
Secondly, as I have said before, “You Don’t See It” is probably my best statement and expression to the world of what having Aspergers/being autistic is like. The experience of self-discovery and acceptance has been joyful and at times painful and overwhelming — but probably the most significant thing I could say is that is has been enlightening. And through it all, the craft of writing and poetry have been a conduit and a means for this journey.
Writing is my native language. I am much, much better at the written word than I am at oral communication: there are times that my tongue fails, but praise God my pen does not. This is part of my reality as an autistic person, and is true for many others. The poetry helps me say what sometimes my lips cannot. I hope I have given you, the readers of RWP, at least a glimpse or a peek at what that reality — and my reality as a whole — is. I also hope that through the poetry on this page that I have reached you, moved you, made you think, and most of all, made you feel.
Finally, please consider not only watching the videos of the segment but visiting Awe in Autism to see the vast, wonderful spectrum of art by creative and talented autistic individuals. I can promise you that you will not be disappointed, but amazed at the breadth of expression the site has to offer.
Saludos,
Nicole
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Stumble It!
Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg, author of the Journeys With Autism blog, is welcoming submissions for an upcoming anthology of poetry and prose by people on the autism spectrum aged 35 and over. She says below:
I welcome all pieces of writing about your feelings about being autistic, your experiences, your sense of yourself, your view of the world, your work history, your relationship with your family, or any other area of interest to you. You can write about your life pre- or post-diagnosis, you can share your experiences as a child or as an adult, and you can take a personal and/or a political point of view. The possibilities are as varied as your feelings, perceptions, and life experiences.
I welcome submissions from those who are self-diagnosed as well as from those with an “official” diagnosis.
The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2011. Pieces must be emailed to rachel AT journeyswithautism DOT com. For further information and submission guidelines, please visit her call for submissions page.
-Nicole
Greetings, RWP Readers!
Due to illness, I have been offline for a while — and while I was away, I was featured on Awe In Autism’s website!
Awe In Autism seeks to “provide inspiration and encouragement to those impacted by autism…through original works of art, music, literature, poetry, photography and video, as well as many other resources”. They feature artists of all kinds on the spectrum. I was prompted to submit my work after winning the ANCA award. My poem, “You Don’t See It”, is featured on the site:
http://www.aweinautism.org/index.php/gallery/poetry/169-poet-nicole-nicholson
-Nicole
Stumble It!
Greetings! The folks over at Winning Writers published an announcement about the Naturally Autistic Award in the Adult International Literary Category and also reprinted one of the poems from the collection, “You Don’t See It,” in the Winter 2010 edition their newsletter. To read, go here.
And BTW, I highly encourage people to subscribe. There is a lot of information about contests and they publish calls for submissions within.
-Nicole
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Stumble It!
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