Collegian

Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Arts

Media Credit: Richard Pietrick Green and gold fantasy horse. Seth Chwast's early obsession with horses and his love for repetition translated into immense color grids of horses involving rich color schemes. His self-study of horses provides a further glimpse into his world. The self study is now one of his recurring subjects along with rainforests, aquatic and mythological animals, exotic birds and iconic imagery of downtown Manhattan.

Media Credit: Richard Pietrick Large painting of a whale.

The Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery is showcasing a unique exhibit featuring paintings exclusively from an autistic artist.

The gallery entitled "The Art of Seth Chwast: A Different Kind of Journey", is exactly that, a different kind of art gallery.

Students are invited to explore a world of color and imagination, where magical horses roam freely and colorful griffins fly across aurora skies.

Seth Chwast was diagnosed with autism as a young child. "A dramatic change in his life came at age 20, when Seth took a painting class at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Seth who rarely speaks, began describing his world in color and paint."

Seth's unique ability to mix colors and translate his hidden world to paint gave him a voice that connected him with viewers of his art.

Now 24, Seth's art has been featured widely in art exhibits and also on NBC's"Today" show.

Horses, his favorite subject dominate the colorful gallery. "They stand tall and proud and look viewers directly in the eye."

Seth even writes his feelings about some of his paintings. On one of his horses he writes, "I feel happy. You are excited. I am excited. I am surprised. I am calm. I am proud."

"The Art of Seth Chwast..." will be featured in the Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery until November 18.

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