Autistic Joy is a ‘neuro-sparkly’ creation up for interpretation

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Artlink is home to many beautiful artworks, but none quite as shiny or sparkly as Autistic Joy.

Since the opening reception on August 1, the vinyl pieces assembled on acrylic display have been welcoming visitors to the vibrant experience of Sherry Polley as she settles into her missing identity.

“My work is a lot more about [how] it’s not only okay to stand out, it is good to stand out,” Polley said. “It is an asset to be quirky, to be a little bit bizarre and have this kind of flare that you don’t necessarily see everyday.”

To Polley, art has always been both a joy and a “lifesaving” coping mechanism in navigating her thoughts and feelings.

For 36 years, Polley struggled with comfortably living her life. The blinding lights, the deafening sounds and the exhausting smells that neurotypical people don’t bat an eye at had the tendency to throw Polley into meltdowns.

Polley has been autistic her entire life, but at the age of 36, she finally received the diagnosis. This breakthrough finally put her on an efficient roadmap to help conquer her overstimulation. Now, Polleyf showcases her first ever solo gallery exhibit where she takes vibrant colors, metallic shades and unorthodox shapes to create pieces that are more show than tell.

“When I look at bright colors and things that are very exciting visually, I will get surges through my body and tingles and a lot of physical feelings.”

From pieces that are a couple inches wide to displays that span several feet, Polley said each artwork plays a vital role in helping visitors experience part of the stimulation that comes with autism. However, these vinyl displays are not just Polley’s story to tell. In the spirit of individuality, the artist recommends that visitors should look especially close to the shape of her art to see what image their own brain can create.

“People will say, ‘I see a honey-glazed ham’ or ‘I see a duck’,” Polley said. “That is one element where the viewer makes the work their own.”

With her work starting to be showcased around the state of Indiana, Polley is finally becoming as bold as the colors she uses, which pays off for the artist in a huge way.

“As someone who has made mountains of artwork, sticking [the artwork] in a drawer is very depressing,” Polley said. “Having my art out makes me feel like I’m being seen in quite a lot of ways which is really beautiful.’

Autistic Joy is on display at Artlink Aug 1 – Aug 25. To learn more about Sherry Polley, preview the display or check Artlink hours, visit the Artlink website .

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