June 26, 2025
Spaulding R. Aldrich Heritage Gallery, 50 Douglas Road, Whitinsville, MA
Artists’ Reception during the Kick-Off Concert for our Free Summer Concert Series on Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 5:00-8:00 PM
Join us in the gallery to explore and celebrate six local, neurodivergent minds who express themselves through art and poetry. Artists Morgan Tartakoff, Karin Knapik-Cloutier, Lillian Harris, Missy Varner, and Jessica Welles, and Poet, Will Hansen, share their talents and superpowers with gallery patrons. Come explore what these beautiful minds create and learn more about neurodiversity.
Exhibit co-curated by Cristi Collari & Morgan Tartakoff.
Exhibit ends on Thursday, August 22, 2025, at the end of the concert.
What is Neurodiversity?*
- The word neurodivergent comes from two parts - neurological and divergent.
- Neurodiversity is a word used to describe the different thinking styles that influence how people communicate with the world around them.
- Depending on how our brains are wired we think, move, process information and communicate in different ways.
- Neurodiversity is an umbrella term used to describe alternative thinking styles.
- Some types of Neurodivergence include Autism spectrum disorder, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Synesthesia, and Tourette's syndrome.
- Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference.
- Neurodivergent isn’t a medical term, and not everyone who identifies as Neurodivergent has a formal diagnosis.
Everyone has friends, colleagues, or family members who are neurodivergent. It's essential to invest time in raising awareness, fostering understanding, and promoting acceptance to build an inclusive and supportive community.
*This information was compiled by the Open Sky Beautiful Minds of Neurodiversity Employment ETG. Link descriptions are to Wikipedia.
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