The Kitimat Museum & Archives presents
“Dappled Sunshine on my Soul: How I Learned to Capture my Energy in Resin”
By Gavin Byrne
Showing in the Upstairs Gallery from April 6th to May 6th, 2023
My name is Gavin and I am an artist! I live with a physical disability and Autism. I’m also non speaking. When I meet people, I know exactly what they believe about me. I can read their energy. Sadly, because I can’t speak, many people assume I don’t understand. I admit that being misunderstood and overlooked in a lot of situations wears on my soul. There is nothing as powerful as being seen and accepted just for being yourself! I sometimes feel like I don’t belong in this world, and letting myself feel free to create art has allowed me to work through a lot of difficult feelings about being disabled.
In 2021 I made my first piece of resin art with my mentor Tannis and I discovered that I can suspend my energy in my creations. I felt so excited to have discovered a way to share what I want to say with others. It felt like purpose entered my life. I was struggling in a school system that wasn’t designed for me and I felt very lost before I came to experience this type of art. I love that art can say so much without an actual voice... just like me. I encourage everyone to view all art with an open heart. Art carries a message and if you drop into your heart you will
feel it.
I’m limited in my movements so I work as part of a team. I choose all the colours and materials and direct the creative flow. When I pour resin I need someone to help me grasp the cup while I move my arm. I’m working on independent pouring but I still need more control. I type on my iPad to give direction and make creative decisions. I currently need a communication partner to help facilitate my typing until my brain body connection becomes strong enough to type on my own. My mom is my facilitator and she also does little tasks like mixing and spreading resin when I need help. Tannis helps me understand how resin moves and teaches me about art and spirit. If I need a steady hand to complete a fine motor task, I describe it and they assist me. I try to use my body’s corporeal energy as much as I am physically able to, but I can safety say I can always put my full spiritual energy into each piece. I’m trying to accept my limitations in this life but I admit it can be hard some days. Creative flow lets me come back to my joy. I’m grateful to this team for giving me this outlet to express myself.
When I’m making art, I’m transported to a place in my mind that holds abundant creativity. I connect with source and let humanity and divinity flow through me. It’s an amazing feeling... like dappled sunshine on my soul. It’s that feeling we all have sometimes when the world is a beautiful place in just that moment in time.
I’m not able to use my actual voice to say what I feel so I’m saying it here with my art. I hope you will receive my message with an open heart. Let’s look inward together and decipher the messages we tell ourselves and others by saying I love you to our own hearts. Have faith in yourself and all is possible. To falter is human. To pick yourself up and try again is difficult but definitely worth it!
I hope to expand people’s perceptions of those of us living with disability. Only when you open your mind to all the possibilities will you see that love is the only thing that matters. Discard old judgements and live to your heart’s fullest potential! I’m hopeful that my art will change your perspective, if only a little bit. I’m dancing in my mind now that you have seen into my soul.